Former No. 1 Maria Sharapova has hired Swede Thomas Hogstedt to co-coach her along with her longtime coach and friend, Michael Joyce, TENNIS.com has learned.
Sharapova and Hogstedt will formally begin working together this coming week at the Bollettieri Academy in Florida. It was Joyce who suggested bringing in another set of eyes to help work with his student. He and Hogstedt—who helped bring China's Na Li to the Top 10 and Tommy Haas to No. 2 in the world—are said to get along well and have done clinics together.
Sharapova ended 2010 ranked No. 18 and was largely disappointed with her year at the Grand Slams. It's Joyce and Hogestedt's aim to get her to focus more on improving, rather than on her results. Three-time Grand Slam champion Sharapova has not won a major since the 2008 Australian Open and has struggled to regain her once-lethal form since undergoing right shoulder surgery in October of 2008.
Sharapova did play former No. 1's Justine Henin and Serena Williams tough in tight losses at the French Open and at Wimbledon, but felt she underperformed in her loss to current No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki at the US Open. The 23-year-old is hoping that Hogstedt will help Joyce to smooth out the rough edges in her game. Hogstedt informally worked with Sharapova and Joyce at a private court in her adopted home of Los Angeles in November.—Matthew Cronin