Maria Sharapova’s partnership with Jimmy Connors lasted about as long as a lead when Brandon League’s in a ballgame.
Less than five days after raving about Connors, Sharapova fired her new coach. She lost to Sloane Stephens in the second round of the Western & Southern Open last week after blowing a one set lead. By Friday, reports had said Sharapova fired Connors, who was hired in July. According to Tennis.com’s Matt Cronin, Sharapova had her father make the termination call to Connors.
Cronin says it was Sharapova’s father, Yuri, who initiated the hiring of Connors, which might be why Maria asked him to make the call to chop the head.
Sharapova is without a coach entering the US Open, which begins next week. Cronin says some observers at Cincinnati believe Sharapova’s problematic shoulder was affecting her again. No matter how you look at it, Sharapova’s in a bad spot leading up to the major.
Racquet clap to Beyond the Baseline
