Players And Coaches Split Up After Wimbledon Losses

Written by: Staff on 5th July 2013

Players And Coaches Split Up After Wimbledon Losses

epa03760725 Ana Ivanovic of Serbia returns to Eugenie Bouchard of Canada during their second round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 26 June 2013. EPA/TOM HEVEZI |

Ana Ivanovic and her coach of two years, Britain’s Nigel Sears have parted ways. The Serbian hired the Briton after 2011 Wimbledon on a two-year contract, which the pair has chosen not to renew.

Ivanovic was ranked No 18 when she began working with Sears and she finished the 2012 season ranked No. 12, her highest ranking since 2009. She also reached the quarterfinals of the 2012 US Open, her first final eight appearance since she won 2008 Roland Garros.

However, the 26 year old has had a spotty 2013 and has been unable to reach her goal of becoming a top five player again. She lost to world No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska in the fourth round of both the Australian and French Opens, and lost two close matches to No. 3 Maria Sharapova during the clay court season. She was extremely disappointed in her grass court results, falling to Elena Vesnina in the opening round of Eastbourne and to Eugenie Bouchard in the second round of Wimbledon

Ivanovic is projected to fall out of the top 15 when the rankings are released on Monday. Her next tournament will be in the Southern California Open in Carlsbad, CA, at the beginning of August

“I’d like to thank Nigel for his dedication and professionalism. I enjoyed working with him,” she said in a statement.

In other coaching news, Daily Tennis has learned that coach Antonio Van Grichen has decided to discontinue his work with the Canadian teenager Bouchard. The Portuguese, who also coached Victoria Azarenka, Vera Zvonareva and Ivanovic, was said to be less than thrilled with her work ethic. He only worked with her for about six weeks on a trial basis. She did have her best Grand Slam ever at Wimbledon, reaching the third round before being stopped by Carla Suarez Navarro.

Tennis Canada pays for Bouchard’s coaching. She has worked before with former Wimbledon finalist Natalie Tauziat on a part time basis, so that relationship could continue, but she is said to be looking for a full time coach.

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Ana Ivanovic, Antonio Van Grichen, Eugenie Bouchard, gnieszka Radwanska, Nigel Sears, Serbian tennis news, Sports, Tennis News, Wimbledon