WTA world number two Anett Kontaveit splits from ‘proud but sad’ coach after less than a year
WTA world number two has officially split from coach Dmitry Tursunov, the announcement coming on the same day she achieved her new career-high ranking.
The Estonian was one of a number of WTA pros who benefitted from a volatile women’s draw at Roland Garros, becoming the closest ranking challenger to Paris champion Iga Swiatek.
Now her coach, former world number 20 Dmitry Tursunov, has publicly revealed that his working relationship with Kontaveit has ended.
He tweeted on the split with Kontaveit: “I would like to thank Anett for the opportunity, congratulate her on a career-high ranking, and wish her the best of luck onward.
“[I] feel proud of the work I put in and a bit sad.
“But sometimes good things must come to an end.”
He then signed off: “Thank you once again and best of luck.”
The duo first linked up ahead of the US Open in August last year, yielding strong results soon after.
She won titles in Cleveland and Prague either side of New York, before adding back-to-back trophies in Moscow and Cluj, Romania come October.
Those and other results catapulted a 25-year-old Kontaveit from 30th to eighth in the world, seeing her qualify for the prestigious season-ending WTA Finals.
She reached the final there to cap an improbable final quarter of 2021.
However, after another title in February in St Petersburg and a run to a second ever WTA 1000 final in Doha, the Balkan talent has struggled for form.
In five events since Qatar, Kontaveit has only claimed a win-loss record of 3-5, including a first round defeat at Roland Garros.
— Dmitry Tursunov (@TursunovTales) June 6, 2022
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