After the stunning news Monday that Andy Murray split with coach of two years Amelie Mauresmo, the Scot discussed what had happened that led to the break-up which came down to scheduling issues.
“I think the end of last year we tried,” Murray said. “Tried to make it work. Amelie was in Dubai, did a training block with me and agreed to, you know, try for another year.
“Obviously in Australia it started well, but then,” he added, “between the Australian Open and Rome we only spent 10 days together really which is in Miami and that wasn’t planned, either. That was something that we changed as well to try and spend a bit more time together through that period. You know, it was just difficult with the amount of time required to do the job and the amount of time we were able to work together.
“It was just such a long period of the year, an important period where I was struggling, as well, where we weren’t getting to work through that together. Yes, it’s unfortunate but those things happen.”
Despite not winning a Slam under Mauresmo, Murray said the controversial partnership with a woman paid off.
“I think it did work,” Murray said. “For two years I think the results that we had were good. Maybe unless I win a Grand Slam, then maybe ultimately that’s how people may judge whether it worked or not, but when she first came into the team, I was really struggling. I was not doing well. My confidence was low and I was going the wrong direction.
“Then obviously when she came on board, my results actually really picked up. For me, the time we spent together was positive. It’s just a shame I wasn’t able to win one of the major events, because that’s what both of us wanted.
“The problem is that the same thing was going to continue happening, like I said, throughout the year. So after Wimbledon it was going to happen and then after the US Open.”
Murray also pointed out there was much criticism when Roger Federer and Stefan Edberg ended their relationship.
“Roger stopped working with Stefan Edberg at the end of last year,” he said, “because Stefan Edberg wanted to spend more time with his family, didn’t want to spend as much time traveling. No one sort of batted an eyelid about that.”
Murray said he will continue working with Jamie Delgado and he hasn’t thought much about full-time Mauresmo replacement.
“I haven’t really thought too much about a new coach,” Murray said. “I haven’t given it loads of thought. But it’s something that I will speak to my team about over the next few weeks and try and find something that works.
“Again, I want it to work, long term, so I will take that into consideration, as well.”
In his first match in Rome earlier today, Murray beat Russian qualifier Mikhail Kukushkin 63, 63.
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