If Naomi Osaka ends up playing Serena Williams in this year’s US Open final, it will be hard to find somebody as qualified to talk about the topic as Sascha Bajin.
German-born Bajin was once a promising junior player before tragedy struck. His father and coach was killed in a car accident as he stepped away from competitive tennis. Nevertheless, over the years 33-year-old Bajin went on to establish himself as one of the most prestigious coaches on the WTA Tour. His career already includes an eight-year stint as Williams’ hitting partner between 2007-2015. Since then, he has worked alongside Victoria Azarenka, Sloane Stephens, Caroline Wozniacki and now rising star Osaka.
“She’s been a big hitter before I started with her. She had this power. It’s not that I added to her. She knew how to play tennis.” Bajin said of Osaka during a press conference at the US Open.
“She maybe didn’t know quite how to handle it or control it. Didn’t quite know when to pull the trigger, when not to. Maybe didn’t know that there were even other ways of putting pressure on the opponent by just pace off the ball.
“So I was trying to kind of maintain the raw power, and then, at the same time, also show that there are other ways of creating pressure on the opponent.”
The two joined forces in December 2017. Under his guidance, 20-year-old Osaka is current in the midst of her best season yet. Winning her maiden premier title in Indian Wells and breaking into the world’s top 20 for the first time. On Wednesday the duo achieved another milestone when Osaka sealed a place in the semi-finals of the US Open. Becoming the first Japanese woman to reach the last four of a major since 1996.
Osaka’s sheer power combined with her infectious personality has positioned herself as a future star of the women’s tour. Something Bajin believes is making his work with her easier.
“What I really love about Naomi is that she really preserved that innocence somehow. So if she’s sad, she’s gonna show it. If she’s happy, she’s gonna show it. There are no fake emotions. There is no fakeness or anything like it.” He explained.
“It’s just very raw, pure emotions. And that makes it easy for me to also understand her, because it’s — you know, my job is a lot based on emotions, as well.”
Of course, when a rising star on the women’s tour emerge, they are inevitably compared with one of the greatest. At the Miami Open Osaka defeated her ‘idol’ Williams in the first round. Starting the comparisons between the two. Although Bajin believes there are few similarities based on his experience.
“I think they really are different people, because the only similarity they have is that they kind of have the same hair, big hair.” He analysed with a smile. “I believe that they kind of want to play the same. They are very powerful, big serves, big hitters, both of them.
“But even on court, Serena is very aggressive, you know, and Naomi, I have to push her to get a fist pump out of her.”
Speaking about the ending of his collaboration with Williams, Bajin said the two decided to go ‘their separate ways.’ Insisting that he learnt more from her than she did from him. A theory he applies to all of the players he has worked with.
At the US Open, Osaka will play either Madison Keys or Carla Suarez Navarro in the semi-finals on Thursday. Meanwhile, Williams will lock horns with Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova.
