Let’s take a look at Fissette’s long and impressive coaching resume: Kim Clijsters (2009–2011), Sabine Lisicki (2013), Simona Halep (2014), Victoria Azarenka (2015–2016), Petra Kvitová (2016), Sara Errani (2016), Johanna Konta (2016–2017), Angelique Kerber (2017–2018), Victoria Azarenka (2018–2020), Naomi Osaka (2020–2022), Zheng Qinwen (2023), Naomi Osaka (2023–2024), and Iga Swiątek (2024–). We can imagine all the information and insights, Wim has amassed—and used?—during the past 15 years.

Osaka, a four-time major champion, was on the comeback trail during that heartbreaking yet encouraging 7-6, 1-6, 7-5 loss on her worst surface to Swiatek, the Queen of Clay, who went on to win her fourth French Open and fifth Grand Slam title. I wonder what Wim told Naomi before, during, and after that match. Afterward, my guess is that he said something like: “Naomi, your backhand broke down on the big points—when you had set point in the first set and after you led 5-2 in the third set, and most critically, when serving for the match at 5-3, you lost a match point and then the next two points, all with backhand errors. So, let’s make your backhand sounder and more consistent, defensively and offensively. You’re getting closer and closer to regaining the form you had when you ranked No. 1. That’s great news!”

Imagine how much the course of both players’ years might have—or even likely would have—changed had Osaka converted that huge match point.

Sadly, for Osaka, that never happened. For the rest of the season, Naomi had a disappointing 9-8 match record, her best wins coming against No. 16 Ons Jabeur at Toronto and No. 10 Jelena Ostapenko in the US Open first round. She then lost 6-3, 7-6 to highly talented Karolina Muchova.

Not surprisingly, on Sept. 14, Osaka announced that she split with Fissette. Two days later, Naomi, who won her last major title nearly four years ago at the 2021 Australian Open, turned 27. During the same month, Osaka, now ranked a shockingly low No. 58, added Patrick Mouratoglou as her coach. As you may remember, Mouratoglou is most famous for reviving Serena’s GOAT career after she suffered a dispiriting first-round loss at the 2012 French Open. Can he do the same now for Naomi?

The next musical chairs coaching twist happened on Oct. 17. Swiatek, who endured a disappointing year—only by her lofty standards—announced she had hired Fissette as her new coach.

During that pivotal French Open match between Swiatek and Osaka, Tennis Channel analyst Lindsay Davenport quipped that maybe players should have NDAs—Non-Disclosure Agreements—with their coaches.

To the best of my knowledge, they don’t. So, when Swiatek plays Zheng and Osaka in 2025, Fissette can prepare a super-smart game plan for Iga. The coach who knows so much about all of his past employers’ opponents, too, gives Swiatek a great head start heading into an intriguing 2025 when she’ll face strong challenges from No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 3 Gauff, No. 5 Zheng, No. 6 Elena Rybakina, along with 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva, Muchova, and perhaps also Osaka.

To learn more about these and other fascinating “as the tennis world turns” topics, be sure to read—if you haven’t already—"GAME CHANGERS: How The Greatest Players, Matches, and Controversies Transformed Tennis."

Paul Fein — Dec. 10, 2024