After parting ways with Conchita Martinez, Karolina Pliskova has added a big name to her 2020 coaching team. The World No.2 adds Dani Vallverdu, the former coach of Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Juan Martin del Potro, Grigor Dimitrov and Tomas Berdych.
“He was one of my priorities from the beginning. He’s had great results with his players, he understands tennis like hardly anyone else and I’m convinced he has a lot to offer to me. I’m already looking forward to the start of the preparation,” Pliskova said in a statement posted on her web site.
The Venezuelan has made a name for himself in recent years with all his experience in the men’s game, but he clearly relishes the opportunity to try his lock on the WTA circuit.
“KarolÃna is a great player and I’m looking forward to working with her to help her reach her goals. WTA is something new for me, but I like challenges,” he said.
Vallverdu will be able to renew his familiarity with Azuz Simcich, a fitness coach that he collaborated with while working for Berdych’s team.
Additonally, former Ukrainian doubles standout Olga Savchuk will join the team. Savchuk worked with Pliskova briefly at Zhenghzhou last year and has also coached the Kichenok twins, Nadiia and Lyudmyla. Savchuk announced her retirement in 2018.
Pliskova, a former World No.1, earned four WTA titles in 2019 and has 15 lifetime titles to her name.