Tennis: World No. 1 Naomi Osaka announces shock split with coach Sascha Bajin

World No.1 Naomi Osaka has announced that she has split from coach Sascha Bajin just weeks after winning the Australian Open. She tweeted about the incident on Monday.

"Hey everyone, I will no longer be working together with Sascha," Osaka wrote. "I thank him for his work and wish him all the best in the future."

Hey everyone, I will no longer be working together with Sascha. I thank him for his work and wish him all the best in the future.

— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@Naomi_Osaka_) February 11, 2019

Bajin also responded to the tweet saying, "Thank you Naomi. I wish you nothing but the best as well. What a ride that was. Thank you for letting me be part of this."

Thank you Naomi  I wish you nothing but the best as well. What a ride that was. Thank you for letting me be part of this.

— sascha Bajin (@BigSascha) February 11, 2019

No other statements have been issued.

Osaka had hired Bajin during the 2017 off-season. The player enjoyed a meteoric rise after leaping from 72 in the world to number one in the past 12 months.

She became the first Asian to hold the top rank after downing Czech Petra Kvitova in the final of the Australian Open last month. Last year she had defeated Serena Williams in a memorable US Open final.

Aahhhh! I’m speechless and turning a bit red. Such an honor. It wouldn’t have happened without my team around me who did amazing work this whole year and Naomi who had the biggest part in all this. Easy to be a good coach when you have a great student. Thanks to you all https://t.co/2Qryd1xeLS

— sascha Bajin (@BigSascha) December 10, 2018

Coach Bajin was awarded the first WTA Coach of the Year award during the off-season. Prior to working with Osaka, he had served as the primary hitting partner for Serena Williams and a hitting partner/consultant for Caroline Wozniacki, Sloane Stephens, and Victoria Azarenka.

Osaka will be next seen at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, a Premier 5 event, which begins next week.