Two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka has opened up on how working with a ballet coach has prevented her from more ‘breakdowns’ on court.
The 26-year-old, who won here in 2018 and 2020, is back at Flushing Meadows as a wildcard after missing the whole of 2023 after giving birth to her daughter, Shai, last July.
Osaka has won just two Grand Slam singles matches since the 2022 French Open but earlier this year she revealed that Simone Elliott has joined her team.
Elliott is a dancer and choreographer who now works as Osaka’s movement coach – and her mental coach. The tennis star has been having lessons in ballet and how to control her emotions on the court.
‘I’m really grateful for her. We do journaling sessions and she’s actually the one that told me to get my little journal book that I read on court sometimes,’ Osaka revealed on Saturday.
Two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka is now working with ballet dancer Simone Elliott
The dancer and choreographer works as Osaka’s movement coach and her mental coach
‘I remember in Cincinnati the day before my qualifying match, I was having a really hard time and an hour before the match I asked if I could talk to her.
‘We talked it through. Then obviously I was able to win the match, and I felt pretty good after that. I have had these moments where I have kind of had a breakdown on court.
‘I feel like if I didn’t talk to her, that might have possibly could have happened again in that moment.’
Osaka takes on No 10 seed Jelena Ostapenko in a mouthwatering first-round tie between two Grand Slam champions.
‘I made a promise to myself to be as confident as I can in the fact that I am who I am,’ Osaka said.
‘Whenever I step foot here, I don’t really think about the two tournaments I won. I just think about how I felt when I was a kid because I did grow up coming here, and I have such vivid memories of watching my favorite players.’
Osaka recalled watching the likes of Rafael Nadal and the Williams sisters and added: ‘It’s more of a childhood nostalgia that I really enjoy.’
‘I’m really grateful for her,’ Osaka said ahead of her return to the US Open after two years away
