Donna Vekic will start the new year with a new coach.
The 21-year-old Vekic has hired Torben Beltz as her new coach.
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Beltz coached Angelique Kerber to the 2016 Australian Open and US Open championships as well as the world No. 1 ranking before the pair split earlier this month.
"The next season is nearly upon us and I can't wait to start working with Torben Beltz as my new coach," Vekic said in a Twitter post. "2017 was one of my best years so far on the tour as I broke the top 50 and I won my second WTA title, I am eager to do even better with Torben.
"It's a great opportunity to learn from one of the best coaches and I look forward to this new collaboration."
In June, the Croatian battled from a set down to claim a 2-6, 7-6(3), 7-5 win over Johanna Konta and win Nottingham—her first title since she won the Kuala Lumpur title as a 17-year-old in April of 2014.
The victory was also Vekic’s first Top 10 win since that same day in April of 2014 when she defeated then No. 10 Dominika Cibulkova, and her second Top 10 win overall.
Vekic is currently ranked No. 54. She followed her run to the St. Petersburg semifinal with four straight first-round losses.
Photo credit: Reuters