Former world No.1 Naomi Osaka has revealed her new ballet teacher is also her mental coach who has stopped her suffering more “breakdowns”.
The US Open champion in 2018 and 2020 has added choreographer Simone Elliott to her team this summer to improve her movement as she returns from maternity leave.
The Japanese star, 26, has also been open about her struggles with depression and took time away from the sport in 2021.
She posted on Instagram after another defeat earlier this month: “Internally, I hear myself screaming: ‘What the hell is happening?!’”
And before facing fellow Grand Slam champion Jelena Ostapenko in the first round in New York, the wildcard said: “Her role, it’s honestly both.
“I remember in Cincinnati the day before my qualifying match, I was having a really hard time, and an hour before the match I asked if I could talk to her. We talked it through. Then obviously I was able to win the match, and I felt pretty good after that.
“So you know me, I have had these moments where I have kind of had a breakdown on court.
“I feel like if I didn’t talk to her, that might have possibly happened again in that moment. So I’m really grateful for her.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk