Despite loss in Stuttgart, Sharapova happy with new coaching situation

Maria Sharapova says she has benefited from coach Thomas Hogstedt's work with her since the pair reunited a few weeks ago.

Though Sharapova fell to Caroline Garcia in the first round of Stuttgart this week, the two players had a high-quality encounter that went more than two and a half hours.

Sharapova was playing her first tournament since withdrawing from Miami with an ongoing arm injury, and her first event with Hogstedt since they split in 2013. She said they are still on a trial basis.

"We haven't really made a formal agreement," she told press at Stuttgart. "We're taking it one week at a time. But I'm loving the work I'm putting in and as far as I'm concerned, that's always the important step in the process."

Sharapova split with her previous coach Sven Groeneveld following a first-round defeat at Indian Wells, where she has said her participation had been affected by arm problems.

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"I wasn't physically ready to play that match," she said. "But maybe that match helped me make some tough decisions.

"It's always a tricky time for them, especially with a person that's been by your side, that you've had such great success with, an incredible coach."

The Russian added that both player and coach had agreed they should stop, and that the change has helped. She noted both Hogstedt's perspective on her play and his disciplined approach.

"With Thomas, obviously having the experience of having him by my side, being part of a winning team, and also... he's coached a lot against me since and I appreciate that feedback coming back into the team. I've had a great few weeks of training," she said.

"And I'm all for that. I'm not shy of putting in the work. I expect that from myself because as the competition gets tougher, as the years go by, everyone's putting in the work. It takes a lot more than that."

But this defeat—her fourth straight—will still have implications for the 2017 Stuttgart semifinalist.

Sharapova will drop from No. 41 to around No. 50 in next week's rankings.

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