Naomi Osaka put new coach Jermaine Jenkins to the test in Miami today.
The world No. 1 said Jenkins, former hitting partner of Venus Williams, has stressed the power of positive thinking to her.
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Though she concedes putting that policy into practice isn't always easy.
"We've been talking a lot," Osaka said of Jenkins. "He's really big on being positive, which I feel sorry for him during this match because I was, like, throwing my racquet and stuff. That's completely against what he was saying.
"I felt really frustrated. At least I didn't crack it, though, so there's that. Yeah, he's really big on being positive, just trusting myself and my body, all the work that I've put in physically."
While Osaka was aware of Jenkins for years, she confesses they didn't share conversation in the past because "I don't talk to people."
"I've seen him around because he used to be with Venus. But, of course, I never talked to him because I don't talk to people," Osaka said. "But I've heard a lot of people saying good things about him."
Osaka said she hopes Jenkins, who succeeded Sascha Bajin as coach, enjoys a long tenure on her team.
"I think it's good that he's only worked with that one person for a long time," Osaka said. "For me, I want the team around me to be for a very long time. I don't want to keep changing people every year. I don't really feel good doing that. Yeah, I think there was nothing but positive things said about him. When I met him, he was really great, so..."
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