No coaching changes on horizon for Murray

Published on Sunday 4 July 2010 22:13

SOURCES close to Andy Murray have denied a report that the world No 4 is about to part company with coach Miles Maclagan.

No discussions have taken place within the Murray camp about a possible switch of coach, and, with Murray having gone on holiday following his semi-final defeat by Rafael Nadal, none are expected to take place within the near future.

In the longer term, however, Murray is set to review every aspect of his set-up as he tries to determine how he can come closer to his goal of winning a Grand Slam, and that includes his working relationship with fellow-Scot Maclagan, who became his coach in late 2007. Born in Zambia to Scottish parents and raised largely in Zimbabwe, the former Davis Cup player is just one of a group of coaches who assist Murray, but is the one primarily responsible for tennis tactics.

In common with most other leading players, Murray has changed his coach regularly throughout his career. He began as a junior with Leon Smith, who is now Great Britain's Davis Cup captain, then switched to the more experienced Pato Alvarez. A spell with Englishman Mark Petchey was next, before the Scot teamed up with renowned American Brad Gilbert.

Murray's relationship with Gilbert was fiery and they were unable to get on. For a time after the split with Gilbert, Murray insisted he would not work with a single coach, instead preferring to have a loose group of consultants with whom he could operate as and when required.

That is still the case in the sense that, whereas some players are guided by their coaches, Murray is in complete control of what goes on in his camp. Steadily, however, a nucleus has coalesced into what is known as Team Murray, consisting of the player, Maclagan, fitness coaches Jez Green and Matt Little, physio Andy Ireland and coaching consultant Alex Corretja.