With the return of Naomi Osaka in Brisbane, the new season promises to be a spectacular one. The competition level within the WTA will increase even more with the former world number one’s arrival. Rising star Coco Gauff, too, left her stamp of authority on the court when she won the US Open this year. Gauff‘s former coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, believes that these are exciting times for women’s tennis.
Osaka has been away from tennis for almost 18 months. She embraced motherhood earlier this year and is finally ready to grace the courts. Naomi will play at Brisbane International, and she has been open about her plans to win more Grand Slams.
Osaka’s arrival comes at a time when there is stiff competition in women’s tennis. Players like Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, and others have been vying for the top spot, and Naomi’s comeback will certainly make things more interesting.
𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓 𝑶𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒂! 🌟
Patrick Mouratoglou believes Naomi Osaka’s return is exactly what women’s tennis needs 🔙 pic.twitter.com/fZtXRyLOOu
— Eurosport (@eurosport) December 16, 2023
In a recent interview, Mouratoglou stated that Osaka and Gauff are superstars. He made references to Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, adding that the WTA needed superstars such as them.
Fans were not having it, though, as they brought up some of Swiatek’s dominant performances. One user commented, “They both like bagels from Iga,” referring to the Pole dishing bagels to her opponents. Here are a few reactions to Mouratoglou’s comment.
Exactly! Iga needs some star opponents to dissect on the court in front of all those people 🤣 And Naomi comes with an in-built audience.
— Cuberro22 (@cuberro22) December 16, 2023
Yes, they both like bagels from Iga 🤗
— Roksanche (@Roksanche) December 16, 2023
1GA bakery ready for another bagels and breadsticks …:) https://t.co/WxtZ4ppf7g pic.twitter.com/lGNvTYlG1a
— ED ♡ TUA CULT☂️ IGA CULT🐐 (@CultTua) December 16, 2023
Coco Gauff was one of the standout players this season, alongside Swiatek. The teen won her maiden Grand Slam this year and will try to add more titles to her name in the new season.
Coco Gauff opens up on her role models
The world no. 3 has a lot of weapons in her arsenal, but there is a move she has been working on. Gauff opened up about working on her slides, but she feels it’s not on par with Novak Djokovic or Carlos Alcaraz.
The US Open champion said that the move is more instinctual than learned and helps play loose balls. She added that she looked up to Novak and Carlos for their footwork.
“Somebody who I look up to a lot movement-wise is definitely Novak and definitely Carlos. I think they’re both people that are seating their fill when it comes to — well, obviously the tennis, but obviously physically and footwork-wise. It’s something I’m trying to work on,” she said (via Tennis365).
Coco Gauff is one of the best athletes around at the moment. As Mouratoglou stated, Gauff is indeed a star, and she certainly has the power and sway over fans.