Conchita Martinez has ended her short term collaboration with current world number three Garbine Muguruza after the Spaniard’s fourth round defeat at the Miami Open.
Martinez, who started working with Muguruza in Doha, has announced via twitter that they have decided not to work with each other for the rest of the season. The collaboration was highly successful, with the highlight of the partnership coming in Doha where the current Wimbledon champion lost a thrilling final to Petra Kvitova.
However after a fairly average US tour, the Spanish duo have decided to split as Muguruza has decided to stick with her full-time coach Sam Sumyk for the remainder of 2018. Here is Conchita’s statement below:
I want to share the news that my collaboration with Garbiñe has finished after Miami. She has decided to go back working full time with her coach. Like always it was great to work these past tournaments with her. I wish her and the rest of the team the best for the rest of year.
— Conchita Martínez 💙 (@conchitamartinz) March 28, 2018
Wrong Decision?
The decision comes as a very strange one to most Muguruza fans and all round followers of the Spaniard. Every time Conchita coaches the former world number one she gives her confidence and happiness as well as her track record being good such as winning Wimbledon and the final of Doha. However when Sam takes control Garbine seems to be miserable and overthink elements of her tennis which ends in a worse result.
The other thing to point out is that Muguruza is much more aggressive and goes for a lot more risks when Conchita is her coach, which results in a lot of positive victories. However when Sam takes over Garbine is a lot more defensive and therefore is too cautious with her shot making which results in a lot more defeats.
Although the thing that may have swayed Muguruza towards Sumyk is that his style of coaching is a lot more effective on the slower courts and with the clay court swing approaching this could be a good time to keep the Frenchman ahead of one of the Spaniard’s favourite times of year.
Only time will tell if this is the right decision as Garbine Muguruza has already arrived for her next tournament which is next week in Monterrey, Mexico.
