Monica Puig has announced a partnership with coach Kamau Murray. Murray famously guided Sloane Stephens to her first major title at the U.S. Open in 2017 as well as a runner-up finish at Roland Garros last season.
Stephens has not had Murray in her coaching box of late, but has not said that the pair have parted ways. At this year’s Australian Open Stephens said that she and Murray were on break.
“Like I said, Kamau and I needed a break, we are in a great space,” Stephens told reporters in Melbourne. “I surrounded myself with people here that I have known for a long time that I'm comfortable with. I wanted to be happy and hopefully that would allow me to play better. So, yeah, the coaching situation is exactly the same as it was before. You just don't see Kamau physically here.”
According to Stefanie Myles of Tennis.Life, Stephens may be close to locking up an agreement with Nick Saviano. According to Myles, Saviano made two trips to California to work with Stephens, and he is likely to be with her at Indian Wells and Miami.
Stephens worked with Murray beginning in late 2015.
Puig has had difficulty replicating the success she achieved when she shocked the world and won the Gold Medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The 25-year-old is currently ranked 59 in the world and has not won any titles since Rio.
Puig had previously been working with Juan Todero, since 2015.
She has not been past the second round of a major since 2016 Roland Garros.