• WTA

Watson splits from coach ahead of US Open

ESPN staff
July 27, 2013
Heather Watson lost in the first round at Wimbledon © PA Photos
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British No. 2 Heather Watson has split with her coach Mauricio Hadad ahead of the US hard court season.

Watson will work with leading women's coach Jeremy Bates in Toronto and Cincinnati throughout August, ahead of the US Open in New York.

"With coaches it's always a big decision," Watson told BBC Sport. "I put a lot of thought into it and I thought it was the best decision for me and my career.

"I think to get to the next level I need to change some things in my game, improve some things, add some things, so that's part of me coming to this decision."

The 21-year-old recently spent two months on the sidelines with glandular fever before making her return to competitive action at the French Open, where she lost in the first round.

Watson began 2013 in the world's top 50 but, due to her absence through the illness, has since slipped down to world No. 78.

The Brit lost in the first round of Wimbledon to Madison Keys, but is scheduled to return at the Citi Open WTA International in Washington on July 29.

Hadad is a former coach of Maria Sharapova.

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