Murray splitting with Gilbert?

PED · 11-13-2007, 04:22 PM

I just saw this in the Times tonight. I like Murray but wouldn't want to work with him

Andy Murray is ready to part company with Brad Gilbert after falling out with the high-profile American coach who helped to build the 20-year-old Scot into one of the finest tennis players in the world.

When Gilbert was appointed in the summer of 2006, Murray was ranked No 36 in the world, had introduced himself as one of the brightest young talents and was on the threshold of turning potential into prizes. He believed that the finishing touch was to bring in the man who had driven Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick to the summit of the game and who was acknowledged as one of the sharpest of tennis brains.

Murray completes this year as world No 11, but the pair have not been the happiest of co-travellers for a while. There were strong rumours that they would separate before the US Open at the end of August, when the Scot was trying to piece his year together after the wrist injury that caused him to miss three months and two grand-slam tournaments.

Theirs has been a tempestuous relationship and, at the end of a period in which Murray was within one victory in Paris this month of qualifying for the Masters Cup in Shanghai, it is believed that they prefer to go their separate ways.
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Gilbert, 46, normally a verbose individual, was reluctant to discuss his situation last night. “I don’t really want to talk about it,” he said from California. “I haven’t spoken to the LTA [Lawn Tennis Association].” Murray is believed to be on holiday in the United States, but not on the West Coast.

Murray has never been shy of making decisions that he feels will best benefit his career. On his emergence as a teenager with more natural talent than Great Britain had produced for years, he asked Mark Petchey, the former Davis Cup player, to become his coach, but the pair parted company in April last year when Murray heightened his aims.

This decision does, however, leave the LTA in a deep dilemma. The national governing body had appointed Gilbert and was happy to indulge him his wages of about £750,000 a year to make sure that Murray was content. In the weeks he was not overseeing the Scot’s career, Gilbert would help the coaching staff at the National Tennis Centre.

The contract was regarded as one of the most remarkable agreed in world tennis - that an association with a remit to build and sustain the sport would pay the wages of a coach who was ostensibly working with one player. Gilbert readily accepted the deal; the rest of the sport looked on in wonder. He brought in Mark Grabow, a fitness coach with the Golden State Warriors basketball team, to build up Murray’s strength.

Together they have worked at only three grand-slam tournaments, the US Opens of 2006 and 2007 and the Australian Open in January, when Murray extended Rafael Nadal, the Spanish world No 2, to five sets in a wondrous fourth-round encounter, after which Gilbert was reduced to tears, so remarkable was his charge’s effort. They would have spent more grand-slam tournaments together but for the wrist injury suffered in Hamburg in May, which forced Murray to miss the French Open and Wimbledon this year.

There is no doubt that, for as long as they have worked together, the partnership has been beneficial. Murray’s ranking soared, Gilbert was one of the best scouting coaches of his ilk and his reputation will not have suffered one jot from the prospective parting of the ways.

Ken B. · 11-13-2007, 04:29 PM

This seems to be more on Murray than Gilbert. Until this last month push, Murray has been quiet since San Jose.

And yeah, Murray does seem like someone who just does what he wants. I can't take him seriously as a player. I can just imagine Gilbert trying to get him involved during practices. When he comes back to commentating, he should have some good stories.

And Murray needs a haircut.

CAM178 · 11-13-2007, 06:32 PM

BG must be a great coach, but I have heard that his personality can be a bit much. I heard a story that when Andre and BG went to a restaurant once, that when they were leaving that BG was really rude to the valet. Rumor has it that Agassi pulled him aside and reminded BG that he was getting the star treatment because of Andre, not BG.

Either way, though, I think Roddick set the bar with how to handle coaches in a classy manner. When he separated with Benhabiles, he flew to Benhabiles to 'fire' him. He didn't just call him and then issue a PR. That was very classy, IMO. Handled man to man, the way it ought to be.

Federer's pet goat Leanne · 11-13-2007, 06:37 PM

It's a shame they are splitting up. I thought Murray was ready to become one of the best players in the game, but we'll have to see what he can do without gilbert.

JW10S · 11-13-2007, 06:44 PM

I've heard from a couple of his sponsors that Murray is very, very, difficult to work with.

SempreSami · 11-13-2007, 06:56 PM

Maybe he'll try and get Paul Annacone.

CAM178 · 11-13-2007, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JW10S

I've heard from a couple of his sponsors that Murray is very, very, difficult to work with.

This sounds very plausible. Anybody that yells and curses at their box, with children within earshot, just spells class to me. Murray is extremely immature on the court. Unfortunately for him, that is all the public gets to see. It's really difficult to listen to his interviews after he has behaved so poorly on the court. At least with Marat, he is ridiculously funny, so you can't help but laugh at him. I still laugh about his 'guy is sitting over there with 2 chicks on arms, man!' at the AO.

Fedace · 11-13-2007, 07:03 PM

Terrific, Wonderful news. Now Gilbert is free to work with the real american talent, Sam Querry. This is perfect. Gilbert should be with Querry starting at the Aussie open.

dima · 11-13-2007, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fedace

Terrific, Wonderful news. Now Gilbert is free to work with the real american talent, Sam Querry. This is perfect. Gilbert should be with Querry starting at the Aussie open.

I lolled! (10 characters)

Nadal_Freak · 11-13-2007, 07:14 PM

Nadal should get Gilbert as his coach.

11-13-2007, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nadal_Freak

Nadal should get Gilbert as his coach.

Kei Nishikori, trains @ Bolletierri from Japan, right age for Gilbert and disciplined.

SoBad · 11-13-2007, 07:37 PM

I am not surprised to hear this news, because to me it seems that both Murray and Gilbert are "thinking" guys. So perhaps Murray benefited from their brief period of working together and exchanging ideas, but not surprisingly finds the relationship entering the zone of diminishing returns. A mindless physical baseline basher would benefit most from a long-term coaching relationship with Gilbert, I think.

Federer's pet goat Leanne · 11-13-2007, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoBad

I am not surprised to hear this news, because to me it seems that both Murray and Gilbert are "thinking" guys. So perhaps Murray benefited from their brief period of working together and exchanging ideas, but not surprisingly finds the relationship entering the zone of diminishing returns. A mindless physical baseline basher would benefit most from a long-term coaching relationship with Gilbert, I think.

Gilbert + Marat? What do you think of that combination?

SoBad · 11-13-2007, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Federer's pet goat Leanne

Gilbert + Marat? What do you think of that combination?

Actually that would not work at all, I think. Like Murray, Safin has a brain and all-court game, but in addition to that he also has a heart and a soul. Gilbert, on the contrary, is ideal for a mindless phony baseline basher.

FedForGOAT · 11-13-2007, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoBad

I am not surprised to hear this news, because to me it seems that both Murray and Gilbert are "thinking" guys. So perhaps Murray benefited from their brief period of working together and exchanging ideas, but not surprisingly finds the relationship entering the zone of diminishing returns. A mindless physical baseline basher would benefit most from a long-term coaching relationship with Gilbert, I think.

Yeah, Roddick should have definitely kept Gilbert as his coach.

SoBad · 11-13-2007, 08:57 PM

^^ Hahahahahaha... I really shouldn't be laughing, because Roddick is America's No.1 player. Hahahahahahahahahahaha....

CAM178 · 11-13-2007, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoBad

Gilbert, on the contrary, is ideal for a mindless phony baseline basher.

Wow, you don't sound like you've ever read BG's books. You might want to do that before using adjectives like mindless and phony. BG's got a phenomenal tennis brain. His analysis is unreal.

If you want proof, look at Agassi's winning the FO after being 2 sets down. BG was responsible for that, and Agassi has openly admitted it. That's why right after he won that FO, he looked up at BG and started crying.

SoBad · 11-13-2007, 09:04 PM

^^ I don't think you read what I posted before you posted what you posted.

RoddickistheMan · 11-13-2007, 09:08 PM

Wow Im shocked. After how well murray has played lately. I think this is once again another really dumb decision made by a guy named andy. Murray was playing so well under gilberts tutelage, probably the best tennis of his life. I think hes too impatient. I believe that if he stuck with gilbert he would be in the top five guaranteed next season. I would love to see him and Andy Roddick reunite. Or maybe even him coaching federer would be insane. I think we should all write to gilbert to ask him to coach any of the american players. Young, Isner querrey or roddick. Anything to get american tennis back on track.
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OrangeOne · 11-13-2007, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAM178

Wow, you don't sound like you've ever read BG's books. You might want to do that before using adjectives like mindless and phony. BG's got a phenomenal tennis brain. His analysis is unreal.

If you want proof, look at Agassi's winning the FO after being 2 sets down. BG was responsible for that, and Agassi has openly admitted it. That's why right after he won that FO, he looked up at BG and started crying.

CAM I think you missed it - SoBad was stating that BG is an ideal coach FOR phony baseline bashers, not that BG is indeed mindless or phony.

Of course, I think this may be going down a trollish route of SoBad actually inferring that Andre is indeed a Mindless / Phony Baseline Basher, but that's neither here nor there, and in fact, if I'm right, it's a shame. For the first time in a long time I actually agreed with a SoBad point, the point being that Gilbert is (especially now) indeed an ideal coach for players who are perhaps willing to be a little less independent.

11-13-2007, 04:22 PM	#1
PED Legend Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 5,195	Murray splitting with Gilbert? I just saw this in the Times tonight. I like Murray but wouldn't want to work with him Andy Murray is ready to part company with Brad Gilbert after falling out with the high-profile American coach who helped to build the 20-year-old Scot into one of the finest tennis players in the world. When Gilbert was appointed in the summer of 2006, Murray was ranked No 36 in the world, had introduced himself as one of the brightest young talents and was on the threshold of turning potential into prizes. He believed that the finishing touch was to bring in the man who had driven Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick to the summit of the game and who was acknowledged as one of the sharpest of tennis brains. Murray completes this year as world No 11, but the pair have not been the happiest of co-travellers for a while. There were strong rumours that they would separate before the US Open at the end of August, when the Scot was trying to piece his year together after the wrist injury that caused him to miss three months and two grand-slam tournaments. Theirs has been a tempestuous relationship and, at the end of a period in which Murray was within one victory in Paris this month of qualifying for the Masters Cup in Shanghai, it is believed that they prefer to go their separate ways. Related Links * Murrays' double life key to Britain’s future * Star starts search for new guiding light Gilbert, 46, normally a verbose individual, was reluctant to discuss his situation last night. “I don’t really want to talk about it,” he said from California. “I haven’t spoken to the LTA [Lawn Tennis Association].” Murray is believed to be on holiday in the United States, but not on the West Coast. Murray has never been shy of making decisions that he feels will best benefit his career. On his emergence as a teenager with more natural talent than Great Britain had produced for years, he asked Mark Petchey, the former Davis Cup player, to become his coach, but the pair parted company in April last year when Murray heightened his aims. This decision does, however, leave the LTA in a deep dilemma. The national governing body had appointed Gilbert and was happy to indulge him his wages of about £750,000 a year to make sure that Murray was content. In the weeks he was not overseeing the Scot’s career, Gilbert would help the coaching staff at the National Tennis Centre. The contract was regarded as one of the most remarkable agreed in world tennis - that an association with a remit to build and sustain the sport would pay the wages of a coach who was ostensibly working with one player. Gilbert readily accepted the deal; the rest of the sport looked on in wonder. He brought in Mark Grabow, a fitness coach with the Golden State Warriors basketball team, to build up Murray’s strength. Together they have worked at only three grand-slam tournaments, the US Opens of 2006 and 2007 and the Australian Open in January, when Murray extended Rafael Nadal, the Spanish world No 2, to five sets in a wondrous fourth-round encounter, after which Gilbert was reduced to tears, so remarkable was his charge’s effort. They would have spent more grand-slam tournaments together but for the wrist injury suffered in Hamburg in May, which forced Murray to miss the French Open and Wimbledon this year. There is no doubt that, for as long as they have worked together, the partnership has been beneficial. Murray’s ranking soared, Gilbert was one of the best scouting coaches of his ilk and his reputation will not have suffered one jot from the prospective parting of the ways. __________________ You have my name, come find me. Just leave your nonsense out of this thread.

11-13-2007, 07:37 PM	#12
SoBad Legend Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 5,870	I am not surprised to hear this news, because to me it seems that both Murray and Gilbert are "thinking" guys. So perhaps Murray benefited from their brief period of working together and exchanging ideas, but not surprisingly finds the relationship entering the zone of diminishing returns. A mindless physical baseline basher would benefit most from a long-term coaching relationship with Gilbert, I think. __________________ 皆けちやんか…

11-13-2007, 08:57 PM	#16
SoBad Legend Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 5,870	^^ Hahahahahaha... I really shouldn't be laughing, because Roddick is America's No.1 player. Hahahahahahahahahahaha.... __________________ 皆けちやんか…

11-13-2007, 09:04 PM	#18
SoBad Legend Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 5,870	^^ I don't think you read what I posted before you posted what you posted. __________________ 皆けちやんか…

11-13-2007, 09:08 PM	#19
RoddickistheMan Professional Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,013	Wow Im shocked. After how well murray has played lately. I think this is once again another really dumb decision made by a guy named andy. Murray was playing so well under gilberts tutelage, probably the best tennis of his life. I think hes too impatient. I believe that if he stuck with gilbert he would be in the top five guaranteed next season. I would love to see him and Andy Roddick reunite. Or maybe even him coaching federer would be insane. I think we should all write to gilbert to ask him to coach any of the american players. Young, Isner querrey or roddick. Anything to get american tennis back on track. ________ HOTELS IN MEXICO CITY Last edited by RoddickistheMan : 03-12-2011 at 05:57 AM.