Wimbledon doubles champion Ekaterina Makarova has confirmed that she will start working with Nigel Sears during the North American hardcourt swing.
The Russian world No.58 confirmed the short-term partnership following her semifinal win at the Citi Open in Washington. The seventh seed overcame France’s Oceane Dodin in three sets to progress to her first WTA final since the 2014 Pattaya Open in Thailand.
“I started today a bit slower than I have to be, but in the second set I tried to step in a little bit more and to make her move, and it started working,” Makarova said on Saturday. “… I’m so happy that finally, I finished it in my way.”
Makarova’s Washington run has been achieved without a coach at her side. She will join forces with British coach Sears during the New Haven and US Open later this month. 60-year-old Sears, who is Andy Murray’s father-in-law, has worked with numerous player on the WTA Tour. He mentored Ana Ivanovic between 2011-2013 and was reappointed in 2015. Sears has also worked with Daniela Hantuchova and Amanda Coetzer.
It was Sears’ work with Ivanovic that was the most high-profile. In 2016 he paid tribute to the Serbian after she announced her retirement from the sport.
“Her special blend of sparkling, instinctive shotmaking, spearheaded by that very special forehand and also armed with a deft touch — she always kept you on the edge of your seat!” He told CNN.
Three-time grand slam doubles champion Makarova is hoping to break new territory with the Brit at her side. The 29-year-old hasn’t progressed to the last eight of a grand slam singles draw since the 2015 Australian Open. At the US Open, her best result was reaching the semi-finals back in 2014.
Makarova, who was ranked as high as eighth in 2015, will play Germany’s Andrea Petkovic in the final. Petkovic defeated fellow countrywoman Julia Goerges, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5, in a two-and-a-half hour marathon.
Makarova’s route to the Citi Open final
R1 – def Jamie Loeb USA 7-6(4), 6-3
R2 – def Monica Puig PUR 6-2, 6-4
QF – def Simona Halep ROM 2-6, 6-3, 1-0 (ret)
SF – def Oceane Dodin FRA 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
