Naomi Osaka hires Jermaine Jenkins as new coach

Naomi Osaka has hired Jermaine Jenkins as her new coach, less than three weeks after splitting with former coach Sascha Bajin.

The Japanese player tweeted about the inclusion of Jenkins in her team, before WTA Insider reported that her team had confirmed the position.

Had a great dinner with the team ?? also taking this moment to thank Jermaine for joining us and coming on board lol ???????? pic.twitter.com/OBpl5R7L2j

— NaomiOsaka????? (@Naomi_Osaka_) February 28, 2019

Jenkins previously worked as Venus Williams’ hitting partner, before Williams made a sweeping change to her team, parting ways with both Jenkins and long-time coach David Witt in December.

Jenkins is the brother of Jarmere Jenkins, who currently works as Serena Williams’ hitting partner.

It continues the trend of Osaka hiring people associated with the Williams camp; Bajin worked for eight years as hitting partner to Serena.

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Following her split with Bajin after 13 fruitful months together, Osaka said she wanted to have a new coach in place by the time Indian Wells begun.

She is the defending champion at that event, played in the Californian desert.

As reported by WTA Insider, “Jenkins joins a team that includes fitness trainer Abdul Sallah, physio Kristy Stahr, and Osaka’s father, Leonard Francois.”

In January, Jenkins was appointed National Coach for Women’s Tennis by USTA Player Development.

Less than two months after this big new role for him at USTA, Jermaine Jenkins is the head coach of #1 Naomi Osaka. Busy year for his LinkedIn. https://t.co/s6J9Wan0Yr

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) February 28, 2019

Osaka’s last result was an opening-round loss to Kristina Mladenovic at the Dubai Tennis Championships, when she was between coaches.