ATP Madrid Open Betting Preview: A tournament with real opportunity, or another title for the usual suspects?

The end of the year always promises coaching change announcements, but this news still caught many by surprise. After a largely successful partnership together, Simona Halep and Darren Cahill have parted ways.

The reason is Cahill wishing to spend more time with his family. The Australian, who has previously worked with the likes of Lleyton Hewitt and Andre Agassi, will take a year-long hiatus from coaching.

"I’ve decided to take a 12 month break from coaching to be home more for support as our children enter important stages of their lives with the final year of high school, sports and college preparations all becoming more time consuming," Cahill wrote.

Advertising

Thank you so much @darren_cahill for all your hard work and incredible support over the past four years.

I was lucky to have you and what a journey we had. Wishing you and your family nothing but the best and I'm sure I'll see you soon! 🙏 https://t.co/hFl28gdXfu
— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) November 9, 2018

Halep and Cahill first started officially working together in the summer of 2015 just ahead of Wimbledon. Since then Halep has put together two year-end No. 1 seasons, and won her first Grand Slam at the French Open. She also reached the 2017 French Open final under Cahill's tutelage, and won seven titles including two in Madrid and two in Montreal.

The Romanian recently shared a special video from Cahill that can now be interpreted as a farewell gift:

I was given a special gift last week. A video that means a lot to me as the words have been repeated to me over the past two years, especially after tough losses.

It was meant to be private but I'd like to share it with you because it tells you my story.

Thanks @darren_cahill pic.twitter.com/Qz5FVoApb5
— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) November 2, 2018

Advertising

Cahill played a huge role in Halep's mental turnaround last season when he walked away after he was unhappy with her performance in Miami. Her career hit new heights after that as she made her first Grand Slam final since 2014 and then climbed to No. 1 for the first time in October.

Even though Halep ended the 2018 season in disappointment when a herniated disk in her back forced her out of Singapore, she will start 2019 as world No. 1. Cahill will still work for ESPN at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open.

Halep and Cahill part ways after most successful season

This Week on Tennis Channel:

Fed Cup Final (Sat. 11/10 to Sun. 11/11)

Petra Kvitova leads the Czech Republic against defending champions USA. Live coverage begins Saturday at 8:00 am EST.