Sharapova and Connors Call It Quits After Cincy Loss

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Sharapova and Connors Call It Quits After Cincy Loss

By Erik Gudris / August 16, 2013

Maria Sharapova ended her coaching relationship with tennis legend Jimmy Connors after losing in Cincinnati this week.

(Photo Source: AP)

One match.

That's how long the high-profile coaching relationship between Maria Sharapova and Jimmy Connors lasted before the Russian superstar parted ways with the tennis legend.

Though Sharapova had high hopes in hiring the eight-time Grand Slam champion Connors to be her new coach after she parted ways with Thomas Hogstedt in July, the partnership just didn't work out. Especially after Sharapova suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of Sloane Stephens Tuesday at the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati.

Connors may have tipped off that the end was near Thursday night when he posted this message on his Twitter account mentioning that he was already back home in California.

Back home in SB-- family,pups, and home cooking. Oh-- I forgot, and a vodka on the rocks.
— Jimmy Connors (@JimmyConnors) August 15, 2013

Max Eisenbud, Sharapova's agent, confirmed today that Sharapova decided to end things, citing that she and Connors just didn't connect during their few weeks working together.

Sharapova's loss to Stephens was the Russian's first match since Wimbledon after Sharapova withdrew from both Stanford and Toronto with a hip injury. Sharapova is expected to compete at the upcoming U.S. Open without a coach on hand.