US Open: Naomi Osaka on the brink of the next big step

Naomi Osaka has the potential to shape the future of the WTA, as does Aryana Sabalenka, against whom the Japanese player won her US Open 2018 round of 16.

By Jens Huiber from New York City

Should globally operating companies, but also family-run companies (which does not have to be a contradiction) be looking for motivation trainers for the sometimes somewhat nasty staff: Sascha Bajin’s contact details will certainly be provided by WTA, otherwise a direct message on Twitter to @BigSascha should also lead to success.

On Monday morning Sascha Bajin stood on the court of the Louis Armstrong Stadium, on the other side of the Naomi Osaka network, which the German has been looking after since the beginning of the season. Osaka didn’t feel herself or her forehand. Bajin, the old fox, reacted to the Japanese woman’s modest body language with an offensive smile – and balls that hit behind the baseline not only gave well, but even very well.

A few hours later Naomi Osaka left the field as the winner in a duel with Aryna Sabalenka, who is in the quarter-finals of the US Open for the first time in her career.

On the WTA Tour there are young players with star potential. Osaka turns 21 in October, Sabalenka celebrated her 20th birthday in May. The men’s #NextGen is loudly pushed into the foreground by the ATP, even if, with the exception of Alexander Zverev, none of the next generation has yet torn anything bigger.

Naomi Osaka did. In Indian Wells, she defeated Maria Sharapova, Karolina Pliskova and Simona Halep on her way to the final. Osaka won the title against Daria Kasatkina, and that convincingly with 6:3, 6:2.

Halep had a rather humorless revenge in Rome, in Wimbledon Angelique Kerber finished in round three. Osaka won against the German at Arthur Ashe Stadium a year ago, preventing the Germans from defending their title right from the start.

At that time Sascha Bajin was still part of Caroline Wozniacki’s team, but primarily as a hitting partner. Bajin now has overall responsibility for Naomi Osaka – the 33-year-old shows at every training session that he can also play a fine ball himself. And warm up.

The same goes for Dmitry Tursunov, of course, who takes care of Aryna Sabalenka. She had just come to the US Open with the recommendation of winning the tournament in New Haven, had beaten Petra Kvitova in round three. Against Osaka Sabalenka took the second set, it wasn’t enough for the complete turn.

Naomi Osaka now faces Lesia Tsurenkko, could play her first semi-final with a major on Thursday. If she doesn’t feel herself while recording or in the match, Sascha Bajin will be there for Naomi Osaka.