• WTA

Sharapova names Connors as coach

ESPN staff
July 13, 2013
Maria Sharapova watched on from the stands at Wimbledon after a second-round exit © PA Photos
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Maria Sharapova has named eight-time grand slam champion Jimmy Connors as her new coach.

Sharapova announced on Saturday that she was parting ways with Thomas Hogstedt because he was "unable to travel in the near future due to personal reasons" and has now teamed with 60-year-old Connors.

"I am really excited about our new partnership and looking forward to the upcoming tournaments," she said.

Sharapova has worked with American Connors before when he helped her out shortly before the Australian Open in 2008. The Russian won three grand slams between 2004 and 2008, adding the French Open in 2012.

Connors previously coached Andy Roddick, who he helped reach the final of the US Open in 2006, the semi-finals of the Australian Open in 2007 and the quarter-finals of both Wimbledon and the US Open that year before they split in March 2008.

Connors won the US Open on five occasions, Wimbledon twice and the Australian Open once as a player, and was world No. 1 from July 1974 to August 1977.

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