Tennis: Ferrer Ends Longtime Partnership With Piles, Names Artur New Coach.

2013 French Open losing finalist David Ferrer has parted ways with his longtime coach, Javier Piles. The Spaniard has named former ATP tourist and fellow native of Valencia Jose Artur his new coach.

Ferrer, 31, played under Piles since turning professional in 2000, reaching the semi-finals of the Australian and US Opens twice each and the quarter-finals of Wimbledon twice.

Piles guided Ferrer into the top five and a first Grand Slam final this year at the Roland Garros.

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“After 15 years of hard work and sacrifice, my coach, Javier Piles, and I have decided that we’ve reached then end of the road,” Ferrer told ATP Tour website.

In  June, Ferrer reached His First Grand Slam Final in Paris, Where He Lost to Compatriot Rafael Nadal.
In June, Ferrer reached His First Grand Slam Final in Paris, Where He Lost to Compatriot Rafael Nadal.

“It will be the best for both of us to start a new phase by going our separate ways.”

Ferrer became the 39th player in the Open Era to collect 500 wins in January. The Spaniard qualified for five season-ending ATP World Tours and became a threat on hard courts, not only on his favoured clay, under Piles.

He added: “The decision isn’t because of any personal or professional problem. Indeed, our personal relationship has been, is, and will continue to be very good.”

Ferrer’s new partnership with Artur will be the third official coaching changes in the tennis off-season after Maria Sharapova hired Sven Groeneveld and Novak Djokovic added six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker to his team.

Grand Slam winners Michael Chang and Goran Ivanisevic will work with Kei Nishikori and Marin Cilic, respectively, in 2014 too.

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