Osaka says she did not watch the Australian Open or the French Open in 2023 as it would have made her realise what she was missing.
She confirmed her intention to return to the professional game during September’s US Open and pledged to design a busier schedule than has been typical for her in the past. When the really hard work began the next month, Fissette duly detected a significant change in her.
“The last time I saw her was around July 2022, when we stopped working together, and I honestly really didn’t know where her career was going to,” he said.
“When I spoke to her again this year in September, she already sounded like a new person. And a person with a lot of strong ambitions.
“I’ve never seen her this way before where she was so hungry to learn. She was such a happy person on the court and the last weeks she has worked so hard and with so much discipline.
“I would say she was definitely the ideal player.”
Fissette says Osaka has always been good at scheduling, so a typical training day runs from 8am until 3pm, with the late afternoons reserved for time with her daughter.
The familiar sight of her slapping her left thigh before a crucial point was in evidence once again as she beat Korpatsch in her first match back, but the long-term goal is to create an even better version of Osaka – a better athlete and more powerful player with greater variety.
She has stated her desire to compete more strongly on clay and grass, and greater exposure to these surfaces can only help in that development.
Osaka says winning future Grand Slam titles and representing Japan in the Olympics would be wonderful, but that it is more important to “cherish” every tournament she plays.
She wants to be able to travel the world with her daughter and make her appreciate there should be no barriers to her own ambitions.
How quickly could success come for Osaka? She has travelled to Australia without Shai, and she would surely not be here if she did not believe she can cut it with the best players in the world.
“That would be a disservice to myself and also the people who want to see me play,” was her reply.
“I can’t really say whether I’m going to do amazing or not, but I feel pretty good with where I’m at right now and I’m pretty competitive.”
Asked about Osaka’s chances at the Australian Open, Fissette said: “I will always see her as a possible winner, but I am also realistic.
“She is always a candidate. I cannot predict results, but I will promise you that she will be a better…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at BBC Sport…