Sharapova Fires Tennis Legend After 1 Loss

Chris Greenberg
Updated
CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 13: Jimmy Connors coaches Maria Sharapova of Russia as she plays Sloane Stephens during the Western & Southern Open on August 13, 2013 at Lindner Family Tennis Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) (Photo: )
CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 13: Jimmy Connors coaches Maria Sharapova of Russia as she plays Sloane Stephens during the Western & Southern Open on August 13, 2013 at Lindner Family Tennis Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) (Photo: )

Maria Sharapova and Jimmy Connors were apparently not particularly mindful of the motto on the flag of Cincinnati while in town for the Western & Southern Open.

"Strength in unity"

Shortly after the 26-year-old Russian tennis star was upset by Sloane Stephens in the first round on Thursday, she fired Connors, as first reported by The Times of London. The eight-time Grand Slam winner had been her coach for just 34 days and one match, according to ESPN.

After Sharapova's come-from-ahead 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 defeat to Stephens, Connors seemed to think that they were just getting started.

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Apparently, Sharapova did not see things the same way.

"It’s not the right fit for this time in my career," Sharapova said in a statement emailed to TENNIS.com that confirmed the firing.

Connors next message on Twitter suggested that he handled the dismissal well -- and with a stiff drink.

Sharapova hired Connors in July following a second-round exit from Wimbledon. The 2004 Wimbledon champ was ousted by Michelle Larcher de Brito of Portugal and had not participated in a tournament until arriving in Cincinnati.

Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova, from Russia, serves during a match against Sloane Stephens, from the United States, at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)
Maria Sharapova, from Russia, serves during a match against Sloane Stephens, from the United States, at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)

Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova, from Russia, reacts while losing in an upset to Sloane Stephens, from the United States, in a match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)
Maria Sharapova, from Russia, reacts while losing in an upset to Sloane Stephens, from the United States, in a match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)

Sloane Stephens

Sloane Stephens, from the United States, upset third seed Maria Sharapova, from Russia in a match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)
Sloane Stephens, from the United States, upset third seed Maria Sharapova, from Russia in a match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)

Jimmy Connors

Jimmy Connors, coaching Maria Sharapova, from Russia, for the first time looks on in her loss to Sloane Stephens, from the United States, in a match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)
Jimmy Connors, coaching Maria Sharapova, from Russia, for the first time looks on in her loss to Sloane Stephens, from the United States, in a match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)

Sloane Stephens

Sloane Stephens, from the United States, upset third seed Maria Sharapova, from Russia in a match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)
Sloane Stephens, from the United States, upset third seed Maria Sharapova, from Russia in a match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)

Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova, from Russia, drinks from a water bottle during a match against Sloane Stephens, from the United States, at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)
Maria Sharapova, from Russia, drinks from a water bottle during a match against Sloane Stephens, from the United States, at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)

Sloane Stephens

Sloane Stephens, from the United States, upset third seed Maria Sharapova, from Russia in a match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)
Sloane Stephens, from the United States, upset third seed Maria Sharapova, from Russia in a match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)

Sloane Stephens

Sloane Stephens, from the United States, returns the ball during a match against Maria Sharapova, from Russia, at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)
Sloane Stephens, from the United States, returns the ball during a match against Maria Sharapova, from Russia, at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)

Sloane Stephens

Sloane Stephens, from the United States, upset third seed Maria Sharapova, from Russia in a match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)
Sloane Stephens, from the United States, upset third seed Maria Sharapova, from Russia in a match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)

Sloane Stephens

Sloane Stephens, from the United States, reaches to return the ball during a match against Maria Sharapova, from Russia, at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)
Sloane Stephens, from the United States, reaches to return the ball during a match against Maria Sharapova, from Russia, at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)

Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova, from Russia, serves during a match against Sloane Stephens, from the United States, at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)
Maria Sharapova, from Russia, serves during a match against Sloane Stephens, from the United States, at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)

Sloane Stephens

Sloane Stephens, from the United States, pauses between serves during a match against Maria Sharapova, from Russia, at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)
Sloane Stephens, from the United States, pauses between serves during a match against Maria Sharapova, from Russia, at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)

Sloane Stephens

Sloane Stephens, from the United States, serves during a match against Maria Sharapova, from Russia, at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)
Sloane Stephens, from the United States, serves during a match against Maria Sharapova, from Russia, at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)

Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova, from Russia, hits a return during a match against Sloane Stephens, from the United States, at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)
Maria Sharapova, from Russia, hits a return during a match against Sloane Stephens, from the United States, at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)

Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova, from Russia, serves during a match against Sloane Stephens, from the United States, at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)
Maria Sharapova, from Russia, serves during a match against Sloane Stephens, from the United States, at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)

Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova, from Russia, hits the ball during a match against Sloane Stephens, from the United States, at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)
Maria Sharapova, from Russia, hits the ball during a match against Sloane Stephens, from the United States, at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.