Pliskova hires Andy's former coach

PRAGUE－World No 2 Karolina Pliskova said on Monday she had hired Venezuelan coach Daniel Vallverdu to replace Spaniard Conchita Martinez whom she fired earlier this month.

"He was one of my priorities from the start," Pliskova said of Vallverdu on her website.

The 33-year-old Vallverdu worked with Andy Murray from 2010 to 2014 and was part of the Ivan Lendl-led team that helped the Scot win Olympic gold and the US Open in 2012, as well as Wimbledon in 2013.

Vallverdu has also worked with Thomas Berdych and Grigor Dimitrov and this year joined Magnus Norman's team coaching Stan Wawrinka.

"He's had fantastic results, he understands tennis like few others and I am convinced he has a lot to offer to me," added the 27-year-old Czech, who is still seeking her maiden Grand Slam title.

Pliskova said former Ukraine Fed Cup player Olga Savchuk had also joined her team ahead of a training camp in Tenerife and her first 2020 tournament in Brisbane, where she will defend the title.

Pliskova, the 2016 US Open finalist, parted ways with 1994 Wimbledon champion Martinez after a season that saw her win four WTA tournaments and reach the semifinals at the Australian Open and the WTA Finals.

Players suspended

Meanwhile, the Tennis Integrity Unit has revealed that two female players, from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, have been provisionally suspended while under investigation for unspecified offenses.

The TIU said Ksenia Palkina and Albina Khabibulina cannot compete in or attend WTA events during the probe.

The 29-year-old Palkina is ranked No 693 in singles and No 496 in doubles, while the 27-year-old Khabibulina is ranked No 294 in doubles.