Groeneveld Named Sharapova’s New Coach

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 22nd November 2013

French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros

Groeneveld Named Sharapova’s New Coach

epa03733352 Maria Sharapova of Russia in action during her semi final match against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 06 June 2013. EPA/CHRISTOPHE KARABA |

Sven Groeneveld has coached a slew of standout WTA players including Grand Slam champions such as Monica Seles, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Mary Pierce and Ana Ivanovic, but he has taken on an entirely new challenge as the new coach of four time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova.

Groeneveld recently left his post as head of adidas Player Development. He took the post in the spring of 2008 where he got off to terrific start, leading Ivanovic to her sole major title at Roland Garros. He also put in time with former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, Sorana Cirstea, Laura Robson, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, and has also advised Wimbledon champion Andy Murray as well as former top 10-er Fernando Verdasco.

Sharapova has been without a coach since she worked for a few weeks with former No 1 Jimmy Connors in July and early August. Her father Yuri had initiated that hire and she didn’t think it was a good fit for her so she quickly ended it.

She decided to try out Connors after her coach of two and half years, Thomas Hogstedt, left her after she lost to Michelle Larcher De Brito at Wimbledon in order to spend more time with his family. Hogstedt was recently named the new coach of Wozniacki.

Sharapova injured her hip in her loss to Larcher De Brito and then her surgically repaired shoulder began to ache again and despite taking cortisone injections. She was only able to play one more match for the rest of the season, a loss to Sloane Stephens at Cincinnati.

Her shoulder is said to be much improved and she and Groeneveld have been working together in the Los Angeles area for the past few weeks.

“We’ve been working together since I got back on the court and after seeing him on the opposing side for so many years, I’m excited to have him become a part of my team,” Sharapova said. “It has been a very seamless transition and I have had a lot of fun with the hard work we have put in so far. Looking forward to the year ahead.”

Sharapova is planning on playing in Brisbane, which kicks off the Australian 2014 summer season.

Topics: 10sballs, Ana Ivanovic, Andy Murray, Caroline Wozniacki, Fernando Verdasco, Laura Robson, Maria Sharapova, Monica Seles, Sorana Cirstea, Sports, sven groeneveld, Tennis, Tennis News, Wta