Maria Sharapova and Grigor Dimitrov part ways

Tennis couple Maria Sharapova and Grigor Dimitrov have split.

ATP's World No 16 Dimitrov yesterday made the announcement even as his 28-year-old partner, chose to maintain her silence on the matter.

Maria Sharapova. Pics/AFP

Twenty four-year-old Dimitrov yesterday told Bulgarian television channels that the couple were no longer together. "Our paths split," Dimitrov told Bulgarian media on Friday.

Though Dimitrov did not give a reason for the split, he said that henceforth he would be able to solely concentrate on his tennis. "We experienced wonderful moments together and I wish her much happiness and success in life and in tennis," said Dimitrov, who climbed to World No 8 last year after reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon. However, he has had a pretty lean period thereafter, and is yet to reach a final. It's no wonder then that the Bulgarian highlighted the fact that he needs to get his tennis career back on track.

"Now I'm concentrated entirely on the game and I'm sure the results will soon be seen. This is the summer of a new beginning for me," added Dimitrov.

Grigor Dimitrov

Five-time Grand Slam champion Sharapova was previously involved in a relationship with Serbian NBA star Sasha Vujacic. The couple got together in 2010 and even went on to get engaged. However, after seven seasons with the NBA, Vujacic signed with a Turkish team and the distance took a strain on their relationship. Vujacic once did not come home for a 10-month stretch and eventually Sharapova called off the relationship in 2012. "Our career schedules just made it extremely difficult to see each other," she had said then.

Meanwhile, Dimitrov was previously involved in a brief relationship with World No 1 Serena Williams during the time he and Williams trained under the same coach, Patrick Mouratoglou.

Later, however, Dimitrov moved out of Mouratoglou's shadow and hired Swede Magnus Norman as his coach. Soon after, it was learnt that Serena and Mouratoglou were a couple.