Conchita Martinez eyes new player and team for 2020 season
"...Karolina and I have decided to take different paths next year...It has been an incredible year full of great moments and emotions. I wish Kaja and her team the best for the future," Conchita Martinez had posted on her social media. It's really nothing new for the Wimbledon champ who after retirement in 2006, dedicated much of her life to guiding teams, upcoming, rejuvented and anxious players who want to see more success into their games. "I decided I will no longer work with Conchita...It was a tough decision...as the season was great. Thank you for all this year, and wish you only the best. Life is a change!!!" Karolina Pliskova announced on her social medias.
What a difference a year makes. Pliskova and Conchita started working together at last year's 2018 U.S. Open where she reached the quarterfinals before defeat by Serena Williams. It wasn't long that the Czech would go on to win the Pacific Open in Tokyo. This year in February the combination of Rennae Stubbs and Conchita Martinez was changed by Pliskova to just Martinez. She'd said that "I had the chance to work with the both of them for a while and I think there were good things and bad things..." the Czech did say back in May on the situation. She hired Martinez during the 2018 season to join her and coach/commentator Rennae Stubbs. It was unfortunate that Stubbs' commentating assignments started conflicting with Pliskova's touring schedule that's when she chose to keep Martinez on full time and relinquish Stubbs to her commitment with ESPN.
The Czech has captured four WTA titles within the year with Conchita and reigned supreme at Brisbane, Rome, Eastbourne and then Zhengzhou. She had started her season ranked no. 8 and finished at no. 2. But it was her inability to make it to the fourth round of any Slam despite reaching the semifinal of the Australian Open in January. It was last week that Pliskova was defeated in the last four of the season-ending WTA Finals by Ashleigh Barty. She hadn't a terrible year and most are wondering why would she dissolve her relationship with the Spaniard?
Conchita Martinez has always had much of her tennis commitments filled as she served as the Spanish Davis and Fed Cup Captain at the same time years ago. Later when she was let go of her fulfillment, she took on being a part-time coach to Spaniard Garbine Muguruza at the 2017 Wimbledon time and saw her capture her first grass court title. She jokingly says of her split with Pliskova that "I'm free to do what I want. I don't belong to anyone." She honestly said though that "We have a good relationship and we always will."
Before Pliskova took on Rennae Stubbs and Conchita Martinez, she was coached by Tomas Krupa in 2018. The Czech is now in talks with probable coaches to suit her talents and schedules for the upcoming season. Martinez reminisced about her first time being with Pliskova and says "When I met her at the U.S. Open, I was so surprised at how much she spoke...I loved her from minute one...
As for the bond that Pliskova had with parts of her team, they always will be held dear. Rennae Stubbs is continuing with her tennis commentating while Conchita Martinez will most likely be a saving coach for the next available player or team in need of structure. Martinez's heavy tennis resume of 33 singles and 13 doubles titles speaks for itself on the help and coaching she can give to any player at any time. This coming summer Conchita will also be preparing for her induction into the 2020 International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. Tennis isn't just a fair weather sport. It's always evolving whether it be with new players getting recognition, iconic ones finding different ways to win or general players that have carved out their mantra to create magnificent games and surprising victories.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/32vc2Wj
No comments