OMNISPORT

Johanna Konta has appointed Maria Sharapova's former coach Michael Joyce as her new coach ahead of the 2018 season.

Konta split with Wim Fissette in October after a disappointing end to a 2017 campaign that saw her rise to a career-high fourth in the world rankings and reach the semi-finals at Wimbledon.

And, as she prepares for the start of the new season and the first grand slam of 2018, the Australian Open, the British world number nine has turned to American Joyce.

Joyce worked with Maria Sharapova from 2004 to 2011, helping her win two grand slam titles and reach number one in the world.

He has most recently worked with Victoria Azarenka and will be in Konta's camp for the Brisbane International, which begins on January 1.

"Michael is a fantastic coach with a great pedigree and I'm really excited to work with him," Konta said. "2017 has been amazing but I feel like there is so much more to come. Our first tournament together will be the Brisbane International and the plan is for Michael to travel with me full-time through 2018."

Konta reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open in 2016 but is not viewed as one of the favourites for 2018, with Serena Williams' return adding to a field set to contain Sharapova and Azarenka along with world number one Simona Halep and Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza.