GB number one Konta splits with coach Carril

  • Posted: Dec 01, 2016

Johanna Konta has parted company with her coach Esteban Carril at the end of a year in which she made her debut in the world’s top 10.

The 25-year-old has not commented yet, but Carril confirmed to the BBC that the partnership has come to an end.

Konta has been training in the Spanish city of Gijon with Carril and Jose-Manuel Garcia for the past two years.

The British number one is now preparing for the new season at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton.

Konta reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January before going on to win her first WTA Tour title at Stanford in June.

Ranked world number 147 in June 2015, Konta climbed to a career-high position of ninth and is currently in 10th place.

She won the WTA’s most improved player of the year award for 2016.

Konta became the first British woman to reach the top 10 of the world rankings since Jo Durie achieved the feat in 1984.

Analysis

Russell Fuller, BBC tennis correspondent

The news comes as quite a surprise given Konta’s stellar year. Both sides are keeping the reasons for the split private for now, and only time will tell how the decision will affect the British number one in 2017.

The news follows a pattern: Milos Raonic and Madison Keys are among other players to have just split with their coaches at the end of hugely successful seasons.

Konta is currently mulling over the future and preparing for the new season at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton. Whoever coaches her next will have a hard act to follow, as her decision to move her training base to the Spanish city of Gijon to work with Carril and Jose-Manuel Garcia transformed her career.

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