Madison Keys has ended her high-profile coaching relationship with former world No.1 Lindsay Davenport.
The two has worked together since the start of 2015. Initially the new partnership produced promising results when Keys reached the semi-final of the Australian Open, the best Grand Slam performance of her career. The 20-year-old also reached the final of the WTA Family Circle Cup in Charleston before losing to Angelique Kerber. The results at these two tournaments was the best achievements of the American’s 2015 season.
The split between the two was unexpected, especially after Davenport recently described her work with the 29-year-old as ‘really fun‘. The news of the coaching changed was confirmed by WTA Insider after receiving information from Keys’ agent.
Madison Keys and Lindsay Davenport are no longer working together. Keys’ agent confirmed.
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) December 10, 2015
Replacing Davenport as the new coach for Keys will be 28-year-old Canadian Jesse Levine. Levine is a former tennis player who reached a ranking high of 69th in 2012. The Canadian was forced to retire from tennis last year due to a persistent elbow injury which troubled him during 2013 and 2014. During his time on the tour, Levine won five Challenger and four Futures titles.
According to the WTA Insider, Keys and Levine know each other ‘well‘ and have conducted hitting practice together earlier this year. The first test for the Keys-Levine partnership will be at the Brisbane International which begins on January 4th.
