WTA: Contact hires former Sharapova coach Joyce

The world number nine Johanna Contacts has appointed Michael Joyce as their new coach starting next year. This was announced on Wednesday by the British woman, who unexpectedly broke up with her coach Wim Fissette in October.

Fissette is now training the former world number one Angelique Kerber.

“Michael is a fantastic coach with an excellent reputation. 2017 was really incredible, but I think there’s a lot more to come,”said Kontakt.

US-American Joyce was in charge of the former world number one Maria Scharapowa from 2004 to 2011 and led the Russian to Grand Slam victories at the US Open 2006 and the Australian Open 2008. Most recently, the 44-year-old worked for the Belarussian Viktoria Asarenka. Contacts and Joyce start at the WTA tournament in Brisbane (1. till 7 January) into the new season.