One of the notable player-coach partnerships that began in late 2013 has come to a swift end.  Former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki dismissed Thomas Hogstedt this week after they had spent just three months together.  Michael Mortensen, a retired doubles specialist, will replace Hogstedt for the immediate future, but Wozniacki’s long-term plans remain uncertain.

Hogstedt had coached Wozniacki throughout the 2013-14 off-season, but she had played only two tournaments under his guidance before deciding to part ways.  The Dane lost in the second round of Sydney to Lucie Safarova and in the third round of the Australian Open to Garbine Muguruza.  While those were mediocre results, few partnerships end so abruptly.  Some will wonder how much Wozniacki’s domineering father, Piotr, influenced this decision.  But Piotr had announced when his daughter hired Hogstedt that he would recede from his intensive, hands-on coaching to simply offering emotional support like an ordinary father.

Despite the failure of his partnership with Wozniacki, Hogstedt should garner plenty of interest from other players moving forward.  He achieved success with two of the current top five women, building his resume on a partnership with Li Na (as well as Tommy Haas) before a shorter but more stunning partnership with Maria Sharapova.  Hogstedt assisted Sharapova in completing the career Grand Slam with a Roland Garros title in 2012, transforming her from a self-proclaimed “cow on ice” to one of the most proficient clay-court players of her generation.

Like Hogstedt, Wozniacki’s new coach also has guided a player to a Roland Garros title.  Mortensen joined Li when Hogstedt shifted to Sharapova, and his tenure reaped immediate results.  The Dane led Li to her first major final at the 2011 Australian Open and her first major title in Paris that spring.  Although Li soon moved past Mortensen to the more experienced Carlos Rodriguez, those achievements speak for themselves.

Ironically, one of the most significant victories that Li scored under Mortensen came against Wozniacki during that finals run at the 2011 Australian Open.  Then ranked No. 1, Wozniacki faced Li in an epic semifinal.  The Chinese star mounted a stirring comeback after facing match point in the second set to prevail in three.  Never since then has Wozniacki come so close to reaching another major final.  That match seemed to mark a turning point in her results at majors, which started to decline thereafter.

Now Mortensen eyes the task of reversing that trend—if all goes well, that is.  He has been hired only for Wozniacki’s next four tournaments, so his impact will be limited unless she chooses to extend their partnership.  Few would doubt that the former world No. 1 needs a long-term coach beyond her father if she aims to launch another assault at the top.  Mortensen may be the answer, or he may be just another step in that direction.