Tim Henman has split from his long time coach David Felgate, the British number one announced on today.
"After serious consideration, David and I have made this decision," Henman said in a statement. "David has been instrumental in helping me find success as a player, and naturally this has been very difficult for both of us. But we came to the conclusion that for me to make that next step, it was necessary to make this change."
Henman and Felgate have been working together since the player was a teenager. Under Felgate's tutelage, Henman won seven ATP titles, most recently in Copenhagen in February, and reached consecutive Wimbledon semifinals in 1998 and 1999.
In recent years, though, Felgate has faced media criticism pointing to his lack of top level coaching experience and his close friendship with Henman, which many critics felt had held the player back.
Henman will travel without a coach for the time being, although he will retain the services of his fitness trainer Kieren Vorster.
Felgate is, according to the statement, "pursuing other options". He was a notable absentee from the British team bench during last weekend's Davis Cup tie against Portugal in Birmingham, in which Henman played both singles and doubles.
For the first time in his professional career, Henman will take to the court on Tuesday without the services of a full time coach when he meets Austrian Stefan Koubek in the first round of the Estoril Open clay court event.
Reuters