World No 1 Osaka in shock split with coach Sascha
TOKYO: World No 1 Naomi Osaka has split from her coach Sascha Bajin just weeks after winning the Australian Open to complete back-to-back grand slam victories, the Japanese player said on Monday.
“Hey everyone, I will no longer be working together with Sascha. I thank him for his work and wish him all the best in the future,” the 21-year-old tweeted in a shock announcement.
Bajin, a former hitting partner to Serena Williams, responded: “Thank you Naomi. I wish you nothing but the best as well. What a ride that was. Thank you for letting me be part of this.”
WOZNIACKI PULLS OUT OF QATAR OPEN
DOHA: World No 10 Caroline Wozniacki has become the latest star name to pull out of the Qatar Open, one of three players to withdraw from the injury-hit tournament on Tuesday.
The Dane was said to be suffering from a “viral illness”, according to a statement from tournament organisers in Doha.
WAWRINKA THROUGH AS PAIRE SWITCHES OFF
ROTTERDAM: Stan Wawrinka benefitted from a Benoit Paire collapse, with the Swiss carving out a 7-6(4), 6-1 win on Monday at the Rotterdam Open.
After fighting through a 45-minute first set, he needed just 26 more minutes to salt away the first-round victory as the moody Paire had unleashed a trademark racquet smash after dropping the opening set.
The frustrated 58th-ranked Frenchman made little effort in the second set, phoning it in with apparent disinterest as Wawrinka took complete charge.
THOMPSON DEFEATS RUBIN AT NEW YORK
NEW YORK: Australian Jordan Thompson put an end to local hope Noah Rubin’s chances at the New York Open on Monday with a 6-7(7) ,7-5, 6-1 first-round victory after the Nassau County native was bothered by a sore shoulder late in the match.
In a battle of baseline specialists it was Rubin who was the sharper at the outset, grinding out a tight first set before errors began to pile up in the second.