Maria Sharapova hired former world No 1 and eight-time Grand Slam title winner Jimmy Connors as her new coach on Saturday, just a day after splitting with Thomas Hogstedt.

"I am happy to announce that Jimmy Connors will be my new coach. I have known Jimmy for many years and we briefly worked together in 2008 just before the Australian Open," said world No 2 Sharapova on her website.

"I am really excited about our new partnership and looking forward to the upcoming tournaments."

Sharapova had been working with Swedish 49-year-old Hogstedt since 2010 when the former world No 1 completed a career Grand Slam with victory at the 2012 French Open.

But at Wimbledon two weeks ago, she crashed out of the second round, losing to Portuguese qualifier Michelle Larcher de Brito, the world No 131.

(China Daily 07/15/2013 page23)