Petra Kvitova announced in a Facebook post today that she and long-time coach David Kotyza have parted ways. Kotyza has been Kvitová's coach since 2009 and has overseen her Wimbledon victories in 2011 and 2014. Recent struggles in majors, including a second round loss in this year's Australian Open to Daria Gavrilova most likely caused Kvitová to make the change.

Kvitova Speaks On Parting Ways

"After seven fantastic years together I will no longer be working with my coach David Kotyza. We had a great run together, winning two Wimbledons, 17 titles and enjoying many laughs. I would like to thank David for the many things he taught me both on and off the court and I wish him all the very best in the future". Kvitová indicated a new voice was needed:  "I felt that my career needed a fresh, strong impetus and a change."I agreed with David to end our collaboration in a personal meeting."

Kvitova's Run With Kotyza

Kvitová's first early success under Kotyza came in 2010, when she reached the Wimbledon semifinals as an unseeded, 62nd ranked player after never having previously won a professional match on grass. She defeated Sorana Cirstea, Jie Zheng, Victoria Azarenka, Caroline Wozniacki and Kaia Kanepi before losing to Serena Williams. She would also reach the semifinals of both the Australian Open and French Open.

Al Bello/Getty Images
Al Bello/Getty Images

Among her 17 titles, she won the WTA Championships in 2011. Her first title with Kotyza was in Hobart in 2009 and her final tournament win with him was in New Haven last year. She has also helped the Czech Republic win four of the last five Fed Cups. That will be her first tournament in the post-Kotyza era when the Czech's begin defense of their title in February on the road against Romania. However, she has only been past the semifinals of a major once in her last 15 tries, that being her Wimbledon title in 2014.

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John Lupo
I am a writer and photographer. I have two Instagrams: @lupojohn1 is my personal account while @dslr_transit_photos is my photography account as I do transit photography in my hometown of New York City.