Eugenie Bouchard is no longer working with coach Nick Saviano, while Simona Halep has hired a new coach and consultant.
Saviano's split from Bouchard was a surprising development, given that he committed to traveling with her to tournaments all year, unlike the players he has previously worked with. Bouchard began the year ranked No. 31 and ended it at No. 7.
Saviano owns an academy in Florida and works with his players there during the off-season. But at the end of 2013, Bouchard wanted to hire him full time for the 2014 season.
In a press release, Saviano confirmed the split: "Genie and I have decided that it is best for us to end our player-coach relationship and to move in different directions for 2015."
Saviano began teaching Bouchard when she was only 12 years old. "Helping Genie grow from an ambitious 12-year-old to No. 5 in the world has been an exciting journey… This past year traveling with Genie to all of the majors has been a wonderful experience with memories I will cherish for a lifetime. I have no doubt that Genie will accomplish great things. I wish her all the best."
Yahoo also said that Bouchard has yet to commit to lead Canada's Fed Cup team for its first-round tie in February in Quebec City against the Czech Republic. "I haven’t made that decision yet. I’m going to see when I sit down with my coach and plan next year," she said.
Halep will work with fellow Romanian Victor Ionita, and will have a consultant in longtime coach Thomas Hogstedt at the Shenzhen Open, Sydney International, and Australian Open. She will re-evaluate his terms afterwards.