Alycia Parks stumbled upon a bad bout of form this season. After showcasing immense talent by clinching her first title at the 2023 Lyon Open and assuming the World No. 40 spot, she has enjoyed modest success in the ongoing season so far. The American had joined forces with Naomi Osaka‘s former coach, Sascha Bajin and although the German coach briefly helped Parks gain momentum on the Tour, he announced a split soon, leaving her enduring the poor results.

Parks commenced the year on a positive note. She reached the third round of the Australian Open wherein she was shown the door by compatriot Coco Gauff. In the following months, mediocre results followed her way. The American pro failed to rack up a single victory until she decided to step under Bajin’s guidance. To much surprise, her hopes for a fortune reversal went in vain when she lost both of her R1 appearances at the Indian Wells and Madrid Open under the German coach. This, in turn, prompted fans to blast Bajin for not fully committing himself to Parks.

While assessing her results, tennis fans took a shot at the coach for not guiding the 23-year-old with the same zealousness that prompted his success with Japanese star Naomi Osaka. However, things took a turn when Bajin responded. After witnessing a turmoil of comments criticizing him, the German replied that he had parted ways with Parks and wasn’t “working together anymore after Miami”.

“Just a little update since I have received a few messages in the past weeks. Alycia and I aren’t working together anymore since a while. We split after Miami. She’s a super sweet girl off-court but I think we just couldn’t agree or had the same vision when it comes to work. I wish her nothing but the best and hope that she can find her success soon again,” read Bajin’s Instagram story.

While most would think that Parks is left without guidance since her split with Bajin, they need a revision. The American is reportedly back with her long-time coach, who also happens to be her father!

Alycia Parks’ father-coach is a former basketball player

Alycia Parks was always privy to a strong force behind her. After all, her rise to prominence would be incomplete without crediting her father, Michael Parks. At the 2021 US Open, when the young talent tied with Venus Williams for the fastest recorded serve (129 mph) ever in the US Open history, she relied on Michael’s tutelage.

The American talent’s nascent journey commenced when she was 7 years of age. After her father realized Parks’ talent, he relocated his family to Florida in hopes of furnishing the prodigy with better training facilities. In an interview with ‘Tennis.com,’ Parks Sr. revealed how he stumbled upon his daughter’s unique skillset in the sport.

“She (Parks’ wife) called me and said Mike you gotta see her play tennis. I said, ‘These kids can’t play tennis.’ So when I went out there they were rallying 150 balls back and forth and I was amazed,” Michael said. Being a former basketball player, Michael later took the responsibility of coaching his daughter himself.

Alycia is now back under her father’s guidance again. After a long time. And, one would hope that with her father coaching her now, the young talent replicates her last year’s form.