World No.1 Naomi Osaka has sought help from a prestigious New York lawyer to help fight a lawsuit that has been launched by one of her former coaches.
Christophe Jean, who coached Osaka and her sister Mari during their teenage years, is claiming that he is owed thousands. According to a report by The Sun Sentinel, a one page contract was signed between Jean and Osaka’s Father in March 2012. It is alleged that in the document it says that Jean is entitled to 20% of the prize money and endorsements owned by the Osaka sisters for an ‘indefinite period.’
Seeking an estimated $2 million in compensation, Jean has said that he was reluctant to hire a lawyer. Saying that he was told to by Osaka’s dad, who is known by friends as Max. Jean said that it was Max who persuaded him to coach his daughters. At the time Osaka’s parents didn’t have a lot of money and couldn’t afford top level coaches.
“I didn’t want to do this, but the last time I talked with Max he told me to go get a lawyer,” Jean told the Sun Sentinel. “So I got a lawyer.”
Jean grew up in Southern Haiti close to where Osaka’s father lived. During his time working with two-time grand slam champion Naomi, Jean said he worked on her fitness. Describing her as ‘fat’ at the time.
“She was fat,’’ he said of Naomi. “She’d sit right there, tired. The dad told me she ate a lot. I run a tough program. I had them do a lot of running, a lot of exercise.”
Responding to the lawsuit, the world No.1 has hired Alex Spiro. A renowned lawyer from New York who has previously worked alongside rapper Jay-Z, businessman Robert Kraft and a series of players from the NBA. One of his most notable cases was getting former NFL player Aaron Hernandez acquitted of double a double homicide in Boston.
“While it comes as no surprise that Naomi’s meteoric rise as an international icon and inspiration would lead to some false claim, this silly ‘contract’ that Naomi never saw or signed — which purports to give away part of herself at the age of 14 — is particularly absurd,” Spiro said in a statement.
“This case has no merit and we will move past it.”
Osaka is currently coached on the tour by Jermaine Jenkins, who is the former hitting partner of Venus Williams. She ended working with Sascha Bajin earlier this year, but insisted that money didn’t play a part.
“Everyone thinks it was a money-related issue, but it wasn’t,” she said. “I wouldn’t put success over my happiness. I’m not going to sacrifice that just to keep a person around. That’s one of the most hurtful things I’ve ever heard.”
So far in her career, the 21-year-old has won two grand slam titles, as well as the 2018 Indian Wells Open. Her current prize money stands at $10,839,756, according to the WTA.
Osaka is yet to comment in public about the lawsuit. She will return to action later this week at the Miami Open where she will be the top seed.
