Maria Sharapova(USSR) Hires Jimmy Connors(USA) as New Coach

 "I am happy to announce that Jimmy Connors will be my new coach," Maria Sharapova announced on her website. "I have known Jimmy for many years and we briefly worked together in 2008 just before the Australian Open. I am really excited about our new partnership and looking forward to the upcoming tournaments."

Maria Sharapova announced on Friday July 12,2013 that she would be parting ways with Thomas Hogstedt, her coach of three years, and a day later already had a former Grand Slam champion lined up to help improve her game

Jimmy Connors, the 8-time Grand Slam champion and former coach of Andy Roddick, is going to take full-time duties with Maria Sharapova.

 The two have worked together for short stints in the past, but never on a full-time basis and Sharapova seems excited about the future

Note
Jimmy Connors (DOB Sep 2,1952)has Won 8 Grand Slam Singles Titles (5 US Opens in 1974,1976,1978,1982 & 1983, 2 Wimbledons in 1974 & 1982 and 1 Australian Open in 1974) and 2 Grand Slam Doubles Titles (at the US Open and Wimbledon), and was a runner-up in 7 Grand Slam singles finals, one Grand Slam doubles final and one Grand Slam mixed doubles final

Jimmy Connors held the top ranking for a then-record 160 consecutive weeks from July 29, 1974 to August 22, 1977 and an additional 8 times during his career for a total of 268 weeks. He was the first male player to rank no. 1 for more than five years in total. He held a year-end top ten ranking for a record 16 years

Jimmy Connors is also the only person to win US Open singles championships on grass, clay, and hard courts


Jimmy Connors helped Andy Roddick quickly after taking over as coach for the American in 2006. Roddick made his second U.S. Open final ever that year, but couldn't get past Roger Federer, who beat him in four sets