Osaka says she didn’t watch the Australian Open or the French Open in 2023 as it could have made her realise what she was lacking.
She confirmed her intention to return to the skilled sport throughout September’s US Open and pledged to design a busier schedule than has been typical for her prior to now. When the actually arduous work started the subsequent month, Fissette duly detected a major 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 mentioned.
“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 by no means seen her this fashion earlier than the place she was so hungry to study. She was such a cheerful particular person on the courtroom and the final weeks she has labored so arduous and with a lot self-discipline.
“I would say she was definitely the ideal player.”
Fissette says Osaka has at all times been good at scheduling, so a typical coaching day runs from 8am till 3pm, with the late afternoons reserved for time together with her daughter.
The acquainted sight of her slapping her left thigh earlier than a vital level was in proof as soon as once more as she beat Korpatsch in her first match again, however the long-term objective is to create an excellent higher model of Osaka – a greater athlete and extra highly effective participant with higher selection.
She has said her need to compete extra strongly on clay and grass, and higher publicity to those surfaces can solely assist in that growth.
Osaka says profitable future Grand Slam titles and representing Japan within the Olympics can be great, however that it’s extra essential to “cherish” each match she performs.
She desires to have the ability to journey the world together with her daughter and make her recognize there needs to be no obstacles to her personal ambitions.
How rapidly may success come for Osaka? She has travelled to Australia with out Shai, and he or she would certainly not be right here if she didn’t consider she will reduce it with one of the best gamers on the planet.
“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 possibilities on the Australian Open, Fissette mentioned: “I will always see her as a possible winner, but I am also realistic.
“She is at all times a candidate. I can not predict outcomes, however I’ll promise you that she will probably be a greater tennis participant than she has ever been earlier than. For certain.”
Listen to Naomi Osaka’s interview with BBC Sport, along with Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal, on 5 Live Tennis at 21:30 GMT on Tuesday.
If you might have been affected by any of the problems raised on this story you possibly can go to BBC Action Line.