Naomi Osaka news: Four time Grand Slam champion training with Nick Kyrgios

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Naomi Osaka

Former world No 1 Naomi Osaka has been working on bouncing back from her tough time last season to become a top player once again following her three month break from the sport to concentrate on her mental health.

The two time US Open champion is currently playing in the Miami Open where she’s defeated a seeded player in the form of Angelique Kerber and she’s through to the round of 16 after she was given a walkover for her previous match with Karolina Muchova who pulled out of the tie due to injury.

However, despite this successful run, Osaka has been struggling with her confidence on court and she turned to Aussie Nick Kyrgios for help and advice to try and emanate his style.

“I have been working on my serve a lot with coach Wim Fissette because apparently before I didn’t put my two feet together so he’s been telling me to be very balanced and put my two feet together,” the 24-year-old explained.

“And I hit with Nick in LA and I was watching his form from very close up and he does this slide thing and then he puts his two feet together and that helps his explode more – I have been really focussing on that part of my technique.

“I think it’s working out pretty well because I think I have a better rhythm now than I did before, especially like with the wind and stuff.”

Both players have been really open about their mental wellbeing, and heckling from the crowd which has affected them in a really negative way.

“It is getting worse because of social media, people think that they’re relevant all of a sudden,” Kyrgios explained.

“Like, you’re not relevant, you have a little social media that you type to people on, you spread negativity.

“It’s embarrassing and you can see how it affects people, it affects Osaka, it affects people – it affected me for years and it’s not okay.”

Osaka faces Alison Riske from the USA in the round of 16 at the Miami Open later today, while Nick Kyrgios is up against Italian Jannik Sinner at the same stage of the tournament tomorrow.

Naomi Osaka Nick Kyrgios

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