The Indian Wells WTA final—it started with a tweener

They couldn’t have known at the time, but Daria Kasatkina and Naomi Osaka, the Indian Wells finalists, started their breakthroughs by helping each other out.

At the BNP Paribas Open, the 20-year-olds impressed with their mental toughness and controlled aggression as they combined to take out the WTA’s premiere names like Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, Karolina Pliskova, Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep.

In their respective runs, both players have acquainted fans with a few signature shots, too, like Kasatkina’s leaping backhand and Osaka’s running forehand.

Before Indian Wells began, though, the two were seen together on a practice court working on a more novel shot: the tweener.

It all started with Osaka’s social media plea for some help with her abysmal tweener technique.

Kasatkina graciously came to Osaka’s rescue in the desert with some pointers.

Given the quick progress Osaka made under Kasatkina’s tutelage, in windy conditions no less, maybe the young Russian has a future in coaching. Osaka wouldn't produce a tweener during her career-best week, but she did take out Kasatkina in the final—and drop just one set all tournament long.

It's clear that Kasatkina and Osaka are the future of women’s tennis. They have the game and the charisma to take the WTA by storm. That they have chemistry, too, is a welcome bonus.

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