Venus' longtime coach says he was surprised by decision to split

Court Report: The WTA's coaching changes during the offseason

Venus Williams's decision to split with David Witt was a "total surprise" to her now former coach, but he says she did not indicate she is retiring.

Witt told the New York Times that he had planned to go to the WTA event at Auckland with Williams but got a "two-minute" phone call that finished their 11-year coaching relationship.

"When it happened, both of us were emotional about it," he said. "Part of you sits there and says that, and the other part says that it was a business decision, which I totally understand, and I respect her decision. I don’t even need to know why, it’s just her decision."

The 38-year-old Williams, the oldest player in the WTA Top 100, has had a poor season following two Grand Slam final appearances in 2017. But according to her coach, she did not mention retirement in their conversation.

"As far as I'm concerned, and from what she [said], she's not retiring," he said, but suggested she might play "a limited schedule."

Williams is next scheduled to play an exhibition in Abu Dhabi, followed by Auckland.

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