The tandem of Maria Sharapova and new coach Jimmy Connors didn't last long. Sharapova fired Connors after only one match together, Tennis.com reports.
Sharapova ended her relationship with Connors after her opening round loss at the Cincinnati Masters to Sloane Stephens. Times of London first reported the story.
"It's not the right fit for this time in my career," Sharapova said in an e-mail to Tennis.com.
Sharapova fell in three sets to Stephens, 6-2, 7-6, 6-3. The 26-year-old Russian has struggled since falling to Serena Williams in the French Open final. Sharapova loss in the second round at Wimbledon, and then withdrew from Stanford and Toronto because of a left hip injury.
Connors was hired after Sharapova lost at Wimbledon, taking the place of her longtime coach Thomas Hogstedt. It's uncertain whether she will immediately hire another coach ahead of the upcoming US Open.
In preparation for the US Open, Sharapova declined a wild card invitation to New Haven next week in favor of taking time to let her body recuperate.
"I'm planning on playing a lot of matches in New York, and just for the body it's tough to play a week before if you're planning on doing extremely well in that event," she said. "I've just never done it in my career, so why start now?"
Sharapova is ranked No. 3 in the World with a 37-6 record and two titles for the year.
Connors sounded OK with the news.
*Stats via WTATennis.com.
