Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka will return to Japan to contest the Toray Pan Pacific Open in September, organizers said Thursday.
The announcement came shortly after coach Wim Fissette revealed he was no longer working with the four-time Grand Slam champion.
Osaka has a history of success at the Pan Pacific Open, winning in 2019 and finishing runner-up in 2018 and 2016, when she reached her first WTA final.
This year's tournament will run from Sept. 19 to 25 at Tokyo's Ariake Tennis Park.
Currently ranked world No. 38, the 24-year-old Osaka has been sidelined by an Achilles injury since making a first-round exit from the French Open in May.
U.S. Open organizers on Wednesday named Osaka in the draw for the Aug. 29 to Sept. 11 Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows, where she will aim to lift the trophy for a third time.
The Japanese star is expected to return to the court at the Silicon Valley Classic starting Aug. 1 in San Jose after accepting a wildcard entry for the U.S. Open warm-up event.
Fissette announced his split with Osaka in an Instagram post uploaded Wednesday.
Osaka began working with the Belgian in 2019 and won two of her four majors — the 2020 U.S. Open and 2021 Australian Open — under his tutelage.
"It has been a privilege to coach Naomi since 2019 and see her grow into the champion she has become," Fissette wrote. "She has inspired a whole new generation to fall in love with the game and to speak up for what they believe in and it's been incredible to play a part in that journey." Fissette has previously coached former world No. 1s Victoria Azarenka, Simona Halep and Angelique Kerber.
