New Delhi: Sascha Bajin, coach of the world number five Naomi Osaka, has become the first-ever recipient of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Coach of the Year Award.
Heaping praise on Bajin for being the man behind Japanese star’s victory in the US Open, WTA tweeted: “The first ever #WTA Coach of the Year award goes to the man behind @Naomi_Osaka_’s rise to @usopen champion! Congrats @BigSascha!”
Thanking the team management and Osaka, Bejin in his reply wrote, “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.”
In their first year together, Bajin guided Osaka to reach new heights, as she won her career first WTA title at the Paribas Open (Indian Wells) and claimed her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open after defeating American tennis ace Serena Williams in a dramatic final.
Bajin also served as a Gold Member of the newly implemented WTA Coach Program, taking part in numerous tennis clinics, panel discussions and media interviews throughout the year to promote and enhance women’s tennis.
WTA Coach of the Year Award is given to the coach with not only success on-court, but also who serves as an ambassador of the sport and brings coaching to the forefront of the game.
[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]