By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Simona Halep has reunited with Romanian Daniel Dobre, her former coach, in Miami.
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
MIAMI—Simona Halep has hired a familiar face as her new coach.
The reigning Roland Garros champion has reunited with Romanian former coach Daniel Dobre launching the spring season with a mentor she knows and trusts.
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The former No. 1 previously worked wtih Dobre before she hired Australian coach Darren Cahill, who guided Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi and Halep to the world No. 1 ranking.
"I have a Romanian coach—the one we worked with before also during the Darren collaboration—Daniel Dobre," Halep said during Miami Open media day. "We also worked before Darren so he knows me pretty well."
"I’m happy he’s on my team now. I trust him and we had a good collaboration in the past. So I think the most important thing is I feel good with him. We have a good connection."
Last month, Halep tried a coaching trial with David Goffin’s former coach, Thierry Van Cleemput, however the pair found the partnership wasn't working and amicably parted company.
The third-ranked Romanian said trust, communication and inspiration are three key qualities she seeks from her coach.
"Connection, trusting also inspiration," Halep said of the assets she needs from her coach. "Tactics and technique, you always want to choose the best coach, but after 20 years of playing tennis, 25 years, you cannot change much in the technique.
"So tactics are really important but for me the most important one is the connection. I had three years of full advice from Darren. I think the fact that a coach is trusting you to believe in yourself I think for a player that is the best thing to feel free and to feel confident on court."