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The real reason Naomi Osaka didn't smile after winning Aus Open

Naomi Osaka has gone some way to explaining why she didn’t look happy during the trophy presentation after her Australian Open triumph.

At the time, Osaka said the reason she didn’t smile while receiving her trophy was simply because she ‘forgot’ and was slightly overwhelmed by the moment.

But on Monday, she appeared to reveal the real reason why she didn’t look happy – and that’s because she really wasn’t.

Osaka fired coach Sascha Bajin last week, two weeks after winning her second straight grand slam.

She didn’t give a reason, leaving a mystery as to why she would sever such a successful partnership. Some speculated it was a money issue.

Naomi Osaka didn’t look as happy as someone who’d just won the Australian Open. (Photo by Fred Lee/Getty Images)
Naomi Osaka didn’t look as happy as someone who’d just won the Australian Open. (Photo by Fred Lee/Getty Images)

But on Monday, Osaka opened up and said that happiness was her motivation for the move.

“Everyone thinks it was a money-related issue, but it wasn’t,” Osaka told WTA Insider.

“That’s one of the most hurtful things I’ve ever heard.

“I travel with everyone on my team. I see them more than my family. I would never do that to them.

“I think my reason is I wouldn’t put success over my happiness. That’s my main thing.”

‘I’m not happy around certain people’

So what about Bajin affected Osaka’s happiness? She didn’t go into detail. But she did allude that Bajin was a source of negativity and a person she doesn’t like on a personal level.

“The biggest thing is I don’t want myself to think to be successful, I have to put success over happiness,” Osaka sad.

“Because if I’m not happy being around certain people, I’m not going to torture myself. … So I’d rather just surround myself with people that I really like and that truly care about me and are just really positive. I think I’ve been able to do that.

“If I’m not waking up every day happy to practice and happy to be around the people I’m around, this is my life.

Osaka’s former coach helped her win two grand slam titles. Pic: Getty
Osaka’s former coach helped her win two grand slam titles. Pic: Getty

“I’m not going to sacrifice that just to keep a person around.”

So, Osaka reached the pinnacle of the sport with the help of a man that she didn’t like. And she decided it was time for a change.

Osaka happier since Australia

She said she wasn’t happy while winning the Australian Open and is happier since letting Bajin go.

“Compared to Australia, I feel really happy now,” Osaka said.

“That’s the funny thing because I heard some people saying I looked really sad in Australia every day.”

Asked about what she seeks from her next a coach — a vacancy that’s still open as Indian Wells approaches — Osaka is looking for more positivity.

“I don’t want someone that’s in the box saying negative stuff. That would be the worst.”

With Yahoo Sports