Sharapova and Connors Kick Off Coaching Partnership In Cincinnati

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 14th August 2013

Sharapova and Connors Kick Off Coaching Partnership In Cincinnati

epa03758140 Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates a point against Kristina Mladenovic of France during their first round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 24 June 2013. EPA/GERRY PENNY |

Maria Sharapova and her new coach Jimmy Connors finally got a chance to test out their new partnership this week in Cincinnati. The two began to work together shortly after Wimbledon, when the Russian and her former coach Thomas Hogstedt split. Sharapova injured her hip during the tournament and was forced to pull out of both Stanford and Toronto, but she did work with Connors at home in Los Angeles at that time.

“His philosophy is there’s no substitute for hard work,” said Sharapova, who is scheduled to play American Sloane Stephens on Tuesday night. “He certainly emphasizes that in every single practice. At this stage of my career, no one’s going to come in and change something drastically. But his experience and work ethic are priceless. It’s been nice.”

No. 3 Sharapova has had what she would call a good but not great year, as she has gone deep in just about every tournament she’s played but has been unable to win another major. She is hoping that with eight-time Grand Slam champion Connors in her corner that things will change.

“I had a lot of great things to hear,” Sharapova said. “A lot of it was from his experience and his knowledge. … I enjoyed the time and the work.”

The 26-year-old Sharapova added that she understands that some might compare her choice of Connors to Andy Murray’s partnership with one of his former rivals and another all-time great, great, Ivan Lendl, but she doesn’t quite see it that way. Connors has coached before when he hooked up with former No. 1 Andy Roddick in 2006.

“It’s maybe a little bit different because I started working with (Connors) after winning four Grand Slams,” Sharapova said. “Certainly I know what it takes to accomplish something. I’ve been there. It was more about the work ethic that I knew he was going to put in, and the experience. He’s been there, done that. When you have a partnership between a player and a coach, he wants me to be better and greater; he’s not going to (just) tell me that I’m great,” Sharapova said. “He’s going to make me work hard and get the best out of me.”

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montassir15 says:

August 14, 2013 at 9:22 am

RT @10sBalls_com: Sharapova and Connors Kick Off Coaching Partnership In Cincinnati: Maria Sharapova and her new coach Ji… http://t.co/Rp…
yvessimonsevy says:

August 15, 2013 at 7:18 am

RT @10sBalls_com: Sharapova and Connors Kick Off Coaching Partnership In Cincinnati: Maria Sharapova and her new coach Ji… http://t.co/Rp…