Briton Andrew Fitzpatrick is rejoining US Open champion Sloane Stephens’ coaching set-up.
Fitzpatrick gave up his playing career to become Stephens’ hitting partner back in 2013 before becoming more involved with coaching her under the tutelage of Paul Annacone.
He has since established himself as a coach in his own right on the WTA circuit.
He was the full-time coach of British number three Naomi Broady during the 2016 season before joining Johanna Konta’s team last year where he worked as assistant coach to Wim Fissette.
However, with Konta’s relationship with Fissette having come to an end following her disappointing run in the second half of 2017 - she has since appointed Michael Joyce as her coach - Fitzpatrick has also left the Wimbledon semi-finalist’s camp.
The 28-year-old has been quick to find a new role though, linking up again with Stephens for whom he will work in a similar role with Kamau Murray remaining as the American’s head coach. Her agent confirmed that Othmane Garma will also stay in 'Team Stephens'.
Stephens was a surprise winner of this year’s US Open. Ranked 83rd going into the event following a spell on the sidelines due to injury, the 24-year-old beat five seeds, including Venus Williams in the last four and Madison Keys in the final.
That run saw her end the year ranked 13th although she has failed to win a single match since her New York triumph, a run which has prompted her to tweak her coaching set-up.
Stephens is due to open her 2018 season at the Brisbane International which begins on December 31.
She is a 25/1 shot with Sky Bet for next month's Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the new campaign.
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