'Not rocket science': Naomi Osaka reveals coach dad's trigger words

World number four and two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka said the journey with her father as a coach has been nostalgic. She said that one of the favourite phrases used by her father is “It's not rocket science.” Osaka, after dispensing two coaches earlier this year, finally found the guide in her father Leonard Francois. The combination has been successful till date as she won the Pan Pacific Open in her home city on September 22, and has already reached the round of 16 in ongoing China open.

Read | Naomi Osaka Breaks Dry Spell; Wins First Title On Japanese Soil

A one-sided contest in China Open

Osaka registered an emphatic win by defeating Andrea Petkovic 6-2, 6-0 in Beijing. In a one-sided contest, Osaka converted five breakpoints. She will now face American Alison Riske, who beat Australian Ajla Tomljanovic 6-3 3-6 6-4 in the round-of-16.

"It feels like it took me back a little bit because he's always been around, but he's been in the shadows for the most part," said the 21-year-old. “I would say he is a person that knows my game the most”, she added. 

Read | Naomi Osaka Wins Pan Pacific Open In Hometown, Ending 8-month Drought

Trigger words of her father

After parting ways with her coach Jermaine Jenkins within a span of 7 months after her defeat in the 4th round of the US Open, Naomi Osaka has been under the personal guidance of her father. Osaka said that her father knows the trigger words, without elaborating on it. "He's the person that knows the trigger words, whether good or bad. Definitely it's been very nostalgic,” said Osaka. "I think we're getting along good," she added. When she was asked what were the ‘trigger words’, Osaka said,  "He likes saying, 'It's not rocket science', which is triggering.”

Read: Tennis Player Naomi Osaka Parts Ways With Coach Jermaine Jenkins

Ended eight-month dry spell

On September 22, Naomi Osaka ended an eight-month dry spell after defeating Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2, 6-3 in a little more than an hour. It was a happy homecoming for Osaka as she was third time lucky in the finals after finishing as runner-up in 2016 and 2018. Osaka had won back-to-back Grand Slams after winning this year’s Australian Open.

Read: Naomi Osaka Reaches Second Round Of China Open, Unimpressed With Win

(With PTI Inputs)