Serena Williams has parted ways with hitting partner Sascha Bajin after working together for eight years. Bajin is now working as the hitting partner of former World No. 1 Belarusian player Victoria Azarenka’s.
Williams has yet to formally announce her split from Bajin but a recent Twitter post as reported on Women’s Tennis Association’s website rocked the sporting of tennis. According to the recent Twitter exchange, Bajin is no longer working with Williams because he is now serving as Azarenka’s new hitting partner.
Azarenka further confirmed the new partnership with Bajin after responding to Williams’ tweet, thanking the top-ranked American athlete for being “cool.” In all fairness, the three of them seemed at ease with the current state of affairs. Bajin revealed in another tweet that he had already started hitting balls with Azarenka.
Bajin spoke with USA Today Sports last year and detailed the story how he became acquainted with 19-time grand slam champion. He was reportedly working for a tennis organisation in Munich, where he was raised, when Williams’ former hitting partner Jovan Savic asked him to train with her. Bajin said that he didn’t say yes right away because he was busy partying that night.
Savic phoned Bajin again and told him that there was no one available to train with Williams. Eventually, Bajin gave in and that was when their relationship started. Bajin’s role was a little bit of everything. He was more than just Williams’ hitting partner but more like a family, like a brother.
Bajin once tried to pursue a professional career as a tennis player. He achieved his career-high rank at the 1149th spot in 2007. However, Bajin’s outlook changed when he lost his father. Since then, he just embraced a career away from the limelight and became one of the key figures on Williams’ team.
Williams started her 2015 campaign at the Australian Open without Bajin, who was away because of an injury then. Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou appointed a new hitting partner in Jonathan Dasnieres de Veigy, a former practice partner of Novak Djokovic.
Currently, Williams is preparing for her return at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. Williams has received a wild card entry in the tournament that also features top 10 athletes on women’s tour, namely, Maria Sharapova, Simona Halep, Ana Ivanovic, Agnieszka Radwanska, Eugenie Bouchard, Caroline Wozniacki, Angelique Kerber, and Dominika Cilbukova.
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