Australian tennis star Samantha Stosur has split with her long-time coach David Taylor just nine days before another tilt at US Open glory.
Stosur made the surprise announcement on Saturday, saying Fed Cup captain Alicia Molik would fill Taylor's shoes in an interim role at the season's final grand slam starting in New York on August 26.
"After six years working together, my coach David Taylor and I have decided to part ways," Stosur said in a statement.
"We've had a tremendous working relationship and I owe so much of my success to Dave's hard work and enduring support.
"Dave and I started working together during my comeback from Lyme disease, one of the most challenging times of my life.
"His dedication during the many highs and lows of my career has been unwavering both on and off the court.
"I wish Dave all the very best for the future.
"During the US Open I'll be working with the Tennis Australia team, including Fed Cup captain Alicia Molik, and I'll start thinking about longer term options after New York."
Stosur and Taylor enjoyed a highly successful partnership.
The one-time hitting partner of Martina Hingis and coach to former world No.1 Ana Ivanovic, Taylor guided Stosur from outside the top 150 to a career-high No.4 in February 2011 and was by the Queenslander's side when she beat Serena Williams in the final of the US Open later that year.
The 29-year-old has won all four of her career titles with Taylor and has beaten every current player in the world's top 10 during their six-year union.
Their split comes less than a fortnight after Stosur conquered Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka to win the title in California, her first tournament win since her grand slam triumph.
Stosur had won nine of 10 matches before falling to world No.25 Simona Halep in the third round of the Cincinnati Masters on Friday.
Taylor, who has a young family, has yet to reveal his future plans.
The 40-year-old boasts one of the most impressive CVs in women's tennis.
Apart from his work with Stosur, Hingis and Ivanovic, he also took Molik to the 2005 Australian Open quarter-finals and a career-high No.8 in the world before she too was struck down with a career-threatening illness.
