Bencic's father back as coach as she reaches Luxembourg final

WATCH—Angelique Kerber leads WTA Finals lineup:

Belinda Bencic is being coached by her father again, with the 21-year-old reaching the Luxembourg final in their first event back together.

Bencic split with her coach Vladmir Platenik of the Empire tennis academy following her fifth consecutive WTA defeat with a first-round exit in Linz.

She then qualified for Luxembourg and reached the final, falling to Julia Goerges.

Bencic had been coached by her father, Ivan, during the first part of her career, along with Melanie Molitor, the mother of Martina Hingis. But following a breakthrough season in 2015 and a career-high of No. 7 in the rankings, Bencic slid in 2016 and was not traveling with her father as the 2017 season began. She has been through several experienced coaches since and was also sidelined with wrist surgery in 2017, falling to No. 312 during her layoff.

Ivan, who was courtside at Luxembourg, told SRF that he is returning as coach.

Bencic, who is No. 47, will return to the top 40 in the rankings.

Meanwhile, Elise Mertens of Belgium appears to be on her third coach of the season, and began a trial with veteran WTA coach David Taylor in China. The 22-year-old Belgian has had a breakthrough season, reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open. She is No. 16 in the rankings.

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