Monica Puig Shocked as Coach Reunites With Sloane Stephens Ahead of US Open 2019

World No.11, Sloane Stephens has reunited with her ex-coach, Kamau Murray ahead of the US Open 2019 as the pair aims to win their second title at the Flushing Meadows over the next fortnight.

Kamau Murray, who was coaching Monica Puig for the 2019 season till now left the Puerto Rican without even informing her as the Sloane Stephens’ announcement came as a shock for Monica.

The American announced her new partnership with her ex-coach on social media. She wrote on Twitter, “Happy to be back with Kamau – excited for the next couple of weeks.”

Kamau Murray witnessed the most successful season for Sloane Stephens in 2017 when she claimed the US Open title after recovering from the foot surgery in January, which forced her to skip the tour for the first four months in 2017.

Kamau Murray also helped the American to win her maiden Premier Mandatory title at the Miami Open, last year. Working under Murray’s tutelage, Sloane Stephens finished the French Open 2018 as a runner up and also reached the quarterfinals of the 2018 US Open.

However, Stephens decided to part her ways with her coach at the end of the last year. She partnered with Sven Groeneveld ahead of the 2019 season. However, the two did not achieve much success as Sloane Stephens could manage to reach only one semifinal in this year, at the Madrid Open.

Monica Puig expressed her disappointment in a statement and said, “At the end of last week, Kamau informed me that he would not be available to go to the US Open with me, which was a total surprise to me. I have put it behind me, and I am fully focused on preparing my best for the US Open.”

Martin Bal, the agent of the reigning Olympic champion also that the decision came as a shocker to Puig’s team. He told El Nuevo Dia, “It was a total shock to us.”