Sloane Stephens Changes Plans and Gears and Hires Annacone As Full Time Coach

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 3rd January 2014

Sloane Stephens Changes Plans and Gears and Hires Annacone As Full Time Coach

epa04003660 Sloane Stephens of the United States waits for a challenge review with Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain during their Hopman Cup match at Perth Arena, Perth,, Australia, 30 December 2013. EPA/TONY MCDONOUGH EDITORIAL USE ONLY AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Sloane Stephens has decided to hire coach Paul Annacone full time for the 2014 season.

After signing a new deal with Stephens and her agent John Tobias at Lagardère, Annacone reversed a decision he had made last week where he said he was not going to travel to Australia and would leave the coaching to Stephens’ hitting partner, Andrew Fitzpatrick, who currently coaching her at the Hopman Cup in Perth.

“That is a terrific opportunity,” Annacone told USA Today “I’m going to have to get comfortable with it and understand the dynamics. She’s going to have to understand me.”

Annacone will travel with the 20 year old to all the 2014 majors, as well as a number of other events. The 50 year-old has coached Roger Federer, Pete Sampras and Tim Henman, as well as running USTA Player Development and LTA Player Development. In No. 12 Stephens, he has one of the US‘s hottest prospects.

“Sloane has an abundance of talent, and she is on a good track,” Annacone said, “I think Sloane is right there. It’s never easy to bet against Serena, but I am looking forward to seeing Sloane in action.”

Unfortunately, Stephens inured her left wrist at the Hopman Cup on Friday and pulled out of her match against Petra Kvitova. She is still scheduled to play Sydney and Annacone hopes the withdrawal is just precautionary.

“I think she is a really good kid with a good heart and an abundance of talent,” he said “Now it’s nose to the grindstone and keep working.”

Topics: 10sballs.com, Andrew Fitzpatrick, Hopman Cup, John Tobias, Lta, Pete Sampras, Petra Kvitova, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Sloane Stephens Paul Annacone, Tennis, Tennis News, Tim Henman