Former world No. 1, Karolina Pliskova has parted company with Conchita Martinez, ten months after they began working together on…
World No. 2, Pliskova parts ways with coach Conchita Martinez
Karolina Pliskova and Conchita Martinez
Former world No. 1, Karolina Pliskova has parted company with Conchita Martinez, ten months after they began working together on a full-time basis.
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Pliskova announced the news via her Social Media handles, describing the decision as “tough” and thanking Martinez for the work she did while the pair were together.
“I decided I will no longer work with Conchita,” Pliskova wrote. “It was tough decision, as the season was great. Thank you for all this year, and wish u only the best. Life is a change!”
I decided I will no longer work with Conchita.. it was tough decision, as the season was great. Thank you for all this year, and wish u only the best???? Life is a change!!!?? pic.twitter.com/UbBN9AVDxS
— Karolina Pliskova (@KaPliskova) November 7, 2019
Former Wimbledon champion, Martinez also announced the split on her own Social Media handle, labelling the year as “incredible”, and wishing Pliskova all the best moving forward.
“It has been an incredible year full of great moments and emotions,” tweeted Martinez. “I wish Kaja and her team the best for the future,” the former Wimbledon champion added.
Pliskova and Martinez first joined forces at last year’s US Open, where the Czech reached the quarter finals, beating Ashleigh Barty in the fourth round before losing to Serena Williams. She went on to win the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, reach the final in Tianjin and the semi-finals at the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore, ending the year at No. 8 in the world.
Following her split with Tomas Krupa after Wimbledon last year, Pliskova initially started working with former doubles No. 1, Rennae Stubbs, but due to Stubbs commentary duties, the Czech added Martinez to her team to share coaching responsibility with the Australian. Pliskova appointed Martinez on a full-time basis in February 2019 following a strong opening to the year, featuring a title run in Brisbane and a semi-final at the Australian Open.
“…I decided to work with Conchi only because I like the work, so there’s no reason why I should have somebody else on the team”, she said in May last year.
“I like so much to work with Conchita, she knows it… Of course on clay I think she’s the best because she can teach me a lot of new things. She was so good on clay and also on grass, so I think the best weeks are coming.”
She went on to win three more titles in 2019- Rome, Eastbourne and Zhengzhou, while she was runner-up to Barty at the Premier Mandatory meet in Miami and a semi-finalist at the year-end Finals in Shenzhen, where she was again beaten by Barty. Pliskova ended the year as the No. 2 in the world, behind Barty.
For all the she did last season, she again struggled at the Slams, failing to make a quarter final after her run to the last four at the Australian Open. That will definitely be an area she will be looking to address next season.
