Now with Nick Saviano out of the picture, who could Sloane Stephens' new coach be? Many might suggest a former player as they have experienced most of the trials and tribulations that a player faces on a regular basis, which would be a great choice for Stephens as she needs an individual she can talk to who can keep her grounded and motivated, while trying to improve all aspects of her game.
However, there are few choices left on the table for former players who have become coaches. Some of them have already been taken by other players, where as some can't commit to travelling week in and week out because of their loved ones or children.
The choice is really up to Stephens now. She has worked with USTA coaches and coaches of players who have reached the top throughout her professional career, but who is the right option for the 22-year-old?
Here are a few options and a few reasons why they can or cannot work with Sloane professionally:
Lindsay Davenport
Lindsay Davenport is a former world number one who knows what it takes to reach the top, and has recently parted ways with another young American in Madison Keys. She is familiar with Stephens' game and has great insight into what she thinks she should do in order to reach the upper eschelons of women's tennis. However, the main reason why Davenport split up with Keys was because she (and her husband Jonathan Leach) couldn't commit to travelling week in and week out because of their three children and Lindsay's Tennis Channel commentator obligations.
Martina Navratilova
Martina Navratilova is one of the game's greats, and has superb technical expertise when it comes to knowing her way around the court. Throughout the course of her playing career, Navratilova also developed mentally, and seemed to always have a psychological edge over her adversaries – one of the many reasons why she has won the most singles matches in the Open Era. Earlier this year, she began working with Agnieszka Radwanska, but that partnership only lasted four months because like Davenport, she was unable to commit to a full travelling schedule with Radwanska due to her personal life and role as a commentator for Tennis Channel.
Jimmy Connors
Jimmy Connors is hailed as one of the greats of the game, which was largely highlighted by his illustrious career and brute mental strength against every one of his opponents – even his rivals. Connors changed the game of tennis forever, and showed why being mentally strong is important, if not even more important than being physically strong. Even though he has had his fair share of controversies, he has always been an advocate for the game, and has a has a tactically astute approach to coaching and tennis in general. In past years, he has worked with Andy Roddick, Maria Sharapova and most recently, Eugenie Bouchard. It is no secret that some of those partnerships lasted longer than others but for the players that he was able to impact professionally, he gave them the confidence they needed to get back on their feet while continuing to strive for excellence. However, at the age of 63, it is hard for Connors to travel regularly, making coaching young and up-and-coming players like Stephens very challenging.
Some might also throw Amelie Mauresmo and Ivan Lendl into the mix but the former has confirmed that she will continue working with Andy Murray in 2016, and the latter can't commit to a full travelling schedule, much like Davenport, Navratilova and Connors.
Working with a former coach might not work either as Stephens' former coaches Paul Annacone and Thomas Högstedt have different professional obligations at the moment. Annacone is a commentator for Tennis Channel, where as Högstedt has begun to work with Eugenie Bouchard in recent months.
With all of those things in mind, who do you think would be the best fit to be Sloane Stephens' next coach? Sound off in the comments!