COACHING TIME OUT
“She’s hoping for success immediately but she’s also realistic”, Wim Fissette on Osaka’s comeback

Naomi Osaka is getting better and better every week since coming back in January, but for a player with such high expectations, she logically feels it’s not going fast enough. Her coach Wim Fissette knows it perfectly well and so I caught up with him in Madrid to get his view on Osaka’s journey back to the only place she wants to go to: the top.

In Madrid, Osaka won a good match against Greet Minnen and lost a good one against Liudmila Samsonova, on the clay which remains a struggle for her game (as showed in her loss in Rouen for her first clay event). The former World No.1 had reached the quarter-finals in Doha and the third round in Indian Wells and Miami.

How would you assess Naomi’s comeback and that clay season? 
“I’m super happy with the process. Where we started in October and where we are now… Regarding clay, specifically, it’s been a long time since she played on clay and a very long time since she was successful on clay so we cannot expect miracles. We might hope for them but we have to be realistic. When we got here five or six days ago, and where we are now: the process is super positive. But of course, losing is always disappointing and, of course, we want more. We are disappointed for her because with all the work she’s doing, I really hope she’s going to be rewarded soon.

Is it tough to keep her focused on the process despite the losses? 
After the match, it’s always difficult, but soon after she knows: she knows where she came from and that there are so many things that are so much better. And so far she’s been unbelievably committed to what she wants to do. She wants to become the best version of herself, she’s 100% investing energy and time, and she’s watching for every detail in her job so I’m very happy with that.

Why is clay so tough for her?
It’s just experience and time spent on the clay. It is different, you need time to make some tactical adjustments. Of course, the movement is different, the bounce is different as it’s a higher contact. But if you just think about the last five years, how many hours has she spent on clay and how many matches has she played on clay? Therefore what I saw was very promising.

She has added a movement coach to the team, former ballerina Simone Elliott: whose idea was it and can you already see an impact?
Yes, I see her improving a lot. The idea came from Flo (Forian Zitzelsberger, the fitness trainer), and Simone is also his wife. She has helped other players on the Tour, she’s amazing at what she does. She’s a really great person to have on the team. Naomi’s flexibility is better, her range of movement is getting better, and she’s getting stronger on the reach just because she’s more flexible I think. Novak Djokovic is also working with people like that. It’s just a matter of working on every part of her body and her game.

We all know Naomi takes losses hard…
We just had our conversation already (after the loss against Samsonova in Madrid) and it’s always hard. I feel the disappointment, but I also know she’s quite rational as well, she understands. She’s hoping for success immediately but she’s also realistic that it can take longer. As a coach, you always try to find the right words, and it’s probably the hardest part of my job also because seeing a player so disappointed after her loss there are no right words… You just have to find how to start the conversation, that’s the key, and to move on as soon as possible. You hear stories about players not talking for two days but we don’t want that. We want to go and continue our process as soon as possible.

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MADRID ATP/WTA 
Swiatek and Rublev escaped the curse

Iga Swiatek did what she had to do in Madrid: she won. Yep, that’s the expectation when you reach the summit of the sport and even more when you’re a few weeks away from the Grand Slam you’re basically picked to win every single year. Very unfair, very heavy crown on the shoulders but still a reality. The World No.1 had the perfect tournament in Madrid, coming after losing against one of her top rivals, Elena Rybakina, in Stuttgart.

Swiatek avoided losing against another top rival, Aryna Sabalenka, in Madrid and it’s not a detail at all. If we’ve learned anything from the Big 4 era is that you need to keep the upper hand on the pack and the fear factor alive. Swiatek did all that last Saturday when she had the last word against Sabalenka in a quite incredible battle (7-5, 4-6, 7-6(7). At 22 years old, she became the youngest player to win 20 WTA titles since Wozniacki in 2012.

Swiatek had an unexpected helper when she was down a break during the final: Rafael Nadal. Well, not really as she kind of just summoned him but surely that counts too. “Honestly, one thing that came through my mind was actually that I think Rafa had a couple of matches like that. I remember exactly when he was playing Medvedev in Australia and it clicked for him. It felt like it. He also struggled for a bit, he was tense and I think stressed. I’m not sure because I haven’t talked to him, but it felt like that. That kind of gave me hope that maybe it will click, even after two hours.”

We will not, Iga. We will never! Isn’t it ironic though to hear her say that on court after beating Sabalenka who made some headlines in Madrid for saying she liked watching men’s tennis more because there was “more logic” and it was “more interesting to see”? Obviously, Sabalenka later clarified whatever she had been trying to say as she was dragged about it. Cristina Bucsa and Sara Sorribes Tormo delighted the crowd by winning the doubles title at home, beating Barbora Krejcikova and Laura Siegemund (6-0, 6-2).

Felix Auger-Aliassime came close to winning one of the weirdest draws in recent memories but, in the end, it’s Andrey Rublev who prevailed in that final (4-6, 7-5, 7-5). The Canadian still had the great week he needed to get back on the right path, and he’s now back in the Top 20. (More on Felix in Thursday’s edition)

To keep the Madrid trend, Rublev revealed after the match that he nearly withdrew several times from that tournament because of various health issues. “No words, if you knew what I’ve been through in the last nine days, you wouldn’t imagine that I would be able to win a title … last six weeks I was losing in the first rounds,” said the now World No.6. Jordan Thompson and Sebastian Korda clinched the doubles title for their first event together, beating Ariel Behar and Adam Pavlasek (6-3, 7-6(7).

MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO 
Broken bodies: just bad luck?

It’s been a crazy ride in the ATP world, with top players dropping like flies through Madrid’s draw. And it has an impact on the Masters 1000 in Rome that starts today, as Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Jiri Lehecka had to withdraw. A bit of a disaster for the Italian who was expected by an entire country and, as one might imagine, the brands he’s now working with.

It seems Sinner had it the worst, with a hip injury more serious than what was thought at the start. "I went back to Monte-Carlo, we did some more tests, which made me take this hard decision because I have to skip the most special tournament of the year for me,” Sinner said. “I have to accept it even if it hurts me and many fans. We realised something was not totally good. If it is not 100 percent healed, I'll stay out a little longer. Caring for the body is much more important than everything else.” There’s now even a doubt over his Roland-Garros participation. We all know how bad hip injuries can go in tennis so it’s reassuring to see that Sinner and his team are taking a zero-risk approach.

Sure, it could all be bad luck, but the Tour might want to dig into this to see if there’s something more sinister at play. The top players who broke down in Spain are young bodies who shouldn’t be in this state already in May and after a few years as professionals. They were coming out of a rough stretch of two-week events in Indian Wells and Miami, on hardcourt, to a Masters 1000 on clay in Monte-Carlo for a week and then back to a two-week event on clay that another one will follow before having to play Roland-Garros. Top players have a day off now in those events but what do they do on these days off? They train, they’re on-site most of the day, they don’t disconnect. Some voices are already calling for a review of that system but it might be too late. But seeing Alcaraz, Sinner, and Medvedev going down could also be a strong enough red flag for the business for someone to have a look into the situation.

QUESTION OF THE DAY 
More TSS at Roland-Garros?

You were 55,56% to say Rafael Nadal should play Roland-Garros even if not at 100% in the last poll. Close call, all around.

The poll is a bit different this time because I need your help to make a decision! I’m thinking of adding more editions of the newsletter during Roland-Garros, so:

BUSINESS / MEDIA 
Microsoft and Asics bank on women’s tennis

• Microsoft said yes to the tennis dress. The company will remain a Billie Jean King Cup partner until 2026, as the ITF announced. Microsoft, which joined in 2020, will be “the competition’s Global Technology and Innovation Partner.” What does Microsoft do? It’s providing all the data, says the ITF: “The data is made available through a dashboard (…) to analyse key elements of the game like player movement, as well as ball, shot, and scoring data.” More AI coming: In the renewed deal, Microsoft will develop that tech solution but will also integrate AI into the platform and look at ways to help fans access the data too.

• Boris Becker is no longer bankrupt. A UK judge found Becker did "all that he reasonably could do" to fulfill his financial obligations.” The German star was declared bankrupt in June 2017, with a £50m debt.

• Asics counts on tennis, and specifically female players, to grow in North America. Forbes quotes Mitsuyuki Tominaga, Asics president, and COO, about the goal of the T-Project that he’s launching: “Using both an investment around sponsorships and grassroots connections but also a research and development effort to increase the innovation and technology used in the sport’s footwear.” Forbes says Asics should soon add a “prominent female player” to its roster this year as a lot of efforts will be focused on the women's side of the sport. Tominaga also explains how partnering with Novak Djokovic improved the brand’s products: “Obviously the way he plays, the footwork, the flexibility he has, he does give us a lot of requirements, which is good,” Tominaga says. “We try to make sure we are up to par on his demands and making the shoes for him trickles down to the other [shoes] as well.”

PLAY HARD, TRAIN HARD, DRESS THE PART 
Iga x FKA Twigs? Only ON knows!

Is Iga Swiatek or Ben Shelton about to do collaborations with FKA twigs? Well, now everything is possible as ON, sponsor of Swiatek and Shelton, has inked a deal with the British artist FKA Twigs for its new training line. “Twigs will be helping to guide the creative direction as On – largely known for its running shoes – expands its reach in the apparel sector. Twigs will be offering a redesign of the distinct Cloudtilt sneakers, along with serving as the first face of the training line.” The collection will drop in August.

EDITOR’S PICKS 

READ: How to thrive when the world overwhelms you? Well, a good start might be to read this book from Elaine N. Aron on the highly sensitive person.
LISTEN TO: Abtal, the podcast of The National News hosted by Reem Abulleil, who also happens to be a tennis writer and broadcaster. She talked to Arab athletes who are on their way to Paris 2024 and you’ll learn a lot about so many different paths. Tennis lovers will appreciate the episode with Ons Jabeur and Mayar Sherif. Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
A Good Tips Recap: As TSS is young, you might not have seen these recommendations so I’m bringing them back:

• One of the best books I’ve read in the past few years: A Gentleman In Moscow.

• My favorite notebook, because yes I’m a Moleskine girlie. They also have a great one to plan and/or brainstorm your travels and the thin kraft brown notebooks to sneak anywhere you go.

• With Paris 2024 looming, I’d also say this read is mandatory: The Rodchenkov Affair. Also, for tennis fans in withdrawal after watching Challengers: Carrie Soto is back, from Taylor Jenkins Reid

• Take a selfish: best acne patches out there and also the best under-eye patches that I’ve found randomly in Doha this year.

• A shout out to your favorite items: That travel pouch so you never lose your passport, your wallet, your boarding pass, or all of the above, and that Samsonite Duffel bag in TSS’s color that is currently on sale!

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