Italian Open star defends parents following mysterious coach split

Diana Shnaider has spoken out after her blockbuster coaching . The 21-year-old confirmed the news after winning her opening match in Rome earlier this week.

But she has now given more details, claiming the split was purely Safina's decision and seemingly came out of nowhere. The world No. 11 also defended her parents after hearing "disgusting" rumours that they were "taking all her money" and were involved in the coaching partnership coming to an end.

Shnaider came into a clay season with a new coach, retired icon Safina. The former world No. 1 joined her at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.

Safina was spotted in her box again at the recent Madrid Open, where Shnaider earned a 6-0 6-0 victory in the third round before losing to in the last 16.

But she was nowhere to be seen when Shnaider started her Italian Open campaign with another double-bagel win, this time against Caroline Dolehide. Shnaider later told Tennis.com that they were no longer working together but did not go into detail.

After beating Jaqueline Christian in round three, the world No. 11 gave more insight into her split with Safina.

"Well, it all happened very spontaneously. Right after the match in Madrid with Iga Swiatek, Dinara told me that she wouldn't go to Rome with me," Shnaider told .

"It was purely her decision not to come here with me. And then, when I wrote from here in Rome this week about the further conditions for continuing the work and so on, she said that she wasn't interested in considering further cooperation for now."

While the 21-year-old didn't want Safina to leave the camp, she respects her ex-coach's decision.

She continued: "Well, what can you do - it happened, these are the circumstances. And this is purely Dinara's decision.

"On my part, I respect it, and I can only accept it. I will prepare for the next tournament and look for some new options. I don't know what Dinara plans to do next - work with someone else or not coach at all. But I only wish her good luck if she suddenly has some offers from other players."

Shnaider also wanted to make it clear that her parents had no involvement. And she used the opportunity to call out more speculation surrounding her family.

"As everyone writes, that they are taking all my money. It's just disgusting to read. It's very painful that people think that about my parents. In fact, I have a great relationship with them," she added.

"Even when I was underage, no one ever took my money. It was purely my own hard-earned money. No one, in principle, knows how much I have in my account."

Shnaider has been doing just fine without Safina so far in Rome. She is through to the last 16 in both the singles and doubles draws, partnering .