News bites: Halep back with Cahill, Osaka splits with Jenkins

Two-time major champion Simona Halep says she is reuniting with Australian coach Darren Cahill after a year apart.

Halep said in a video posted on Twitter on Thursday that “Darren will be back by my side next season” and that she “can’t wait to finish what we started.”

Even though you've been away this year, you've been with us every step of the way.

Can't wait to welcome you back officially next season ??@darren_cahill? ???? pic.twitter.com/hVbhm17q4K

— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) September 12, 2019

The duo previously worked together for four years; during that time, Halep won the 2018 French Open for her first Grand Slam title and twice finished No.1 in the WTA year-end rankings. She also was the runner-up at three major tournaments.

In November 2018, Cahill said he was taking a 12-month break from coaching to spend more time with his family and pursue TV broadcasting roles.

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Halep won Wimbledon this July with Daniel Dobre as her coach.

She is currently ranked No. 6 following her second-round loss to Taylor Townsend at the US Open.

Osaka and Jenkins split

Around the same time, Naomi Osaka announced she and coach Jermaine Jenkins would go their separate ways.

Jenkins is the second coach Osaka has split with in 2019; shortly after winning the Australian Open, Osaka and Sascha Bajin ended their partnership.

Thank you ???? pic.twitter.com/lezK48041H

— NaomiOsaka????? (@Naomi_Osaka_) September 12, 2019

“I’m super grateful for the time we spent together and the things I learned on and off the court but I feel like now is the appropriate time for a change,” Osaka wrote on social media.

Ranked No.1 heading into the US Open, Osaka has since slipped to world No.4 after failing to defend the points from her 2018 title at Flushing Meadows.

She fell in the fourth round in New York this year to 2019 nemesis Belinda Bencic.

Murray accepts Shanghai wildcard

Former world No.1 Andy Murray will return to the Shanghai Masters, this year scheduled from 5-13 October, for the first time since 2016 after the Briton was awarded a wildcard for the tournament.

Murray, a three-times winner in Shanghai, is looking to play himself back into form in singles after undergoing career-saving hip resurfacing surgery earlier this year.

Look who is coming to the Rolex Shanghai Masters. A 3-time champion, @andy_murray has been awarded a wild card for the 2019 tournament 5 to 13 October pic.twitter.com/moPQjgILtU

— RolexShMasters (@SH_RolexMasters) September 12, 2019

The 32-year-old recorded his first two singles victories since the injury at the Rafa Nadal Open Challenger tournament in Mallorca before losing in the third round.

“I’m really looking forward to be going back to Shanghai, a tournament I have had success at in the past – the last time I was there was in 2016,” Murray said in a statement.

“Thanks to the tournament for a wildcard, it’s great to be able to continue my comeback and play more tennis in China.”

Murray, who has slipped to 415 in the world rankings, has already confirmed his entry for two other tournaments in China during the ATP Tour’s Asian swing — in Zhuhai and Beijing.