GameSetMatch
Banned
Neil Harman Tennis Correspondent
December 20 2010 12:00AM
Those coaches who had hoped to receive a Christmas message to go and work with Andy Murray will have to look elsewhere for employment. The world No 4 has chosen to spend at least the first six months of 2011 in the company of those who helped him to gather up the post-Wimbledon pieces in 2010.
Since the departure of Miles Maclagan from Team Murray in the immediate aftermath of his semi-final defeat at the championships, the Scot has preferred a low-key approach, with Alex Corretja, the Spaniard, retaining a consultancy position and Dani Vallverdu, his old chum from their Barcelona academy days, travelling as a hitting partner and opposition scout.
As his preparation for the new season continues at a training camp in Miami, Florida, the word from Murray is that he has resisted the temptation to go for a full-time appointment and would rather work a lot more out for himself. It is a courageous move and one that will cause raised eyebrows through the tennis community.
There was no shortage of prominent teachers who would have liked a word with Murray — the best player to have emerged in the past decade not to have won a grand-slam tournament — but the decision reached this weekend is, in his view, the best possible compromise.
Corretja, a former world No 2 and twice French Open runner-up, has become a valued friend and quiet, undemonstrative coach while Vallverdu, the Venezuelan, is not only his best friend but keeps the atmosphere in the camp light and uncomplicated.
What it shows more than anything is that Murray wants to be his own man and make the decisions, on and off the court, on which his future promise rests. As he reaches the age where more and more players in contemporary tennis attain the peak of their talent, he is willing to shoulder more rather than less of the burden.
Murray has said that he has “a pretty broad taste which it comes to coaches”. Corretja, the latest, is a highly respected Spaniard who, safe to say, does not have an enemy in the world. When he came on board in April 2008, it was thought that Corretja was being brought in largely to help Murray to conquer any clay-court demons, but there is more to the relationship now than a one-surface cure-all.
Corretja’s initial instincts were that “Andy is willing to do what needs to be done and he learns so fast. There is so much more to his game than most players, even Spanish clay-court players. He wants to be perfect, but you don’t always have to be perfect to win. Even Rafael Nadal accepts that.”
Corretja will be on the practice courts and in the stands at Melbourne Park next month as Murray attempts to go one better at the Australian Open than in January. The preparation for the first grand-slam tournament of the year will be precisely the same as 2010, a week spent playing singles and mixed doubles with Laura Robson at the Hyundai Hopman Cup in Perth before decamping to Melbourne.
In the past few months there has been the odd subtle change in the set-ups of the leading male players. Roger Federer, who defeated Murray in this year’s Melbourne final, brought Paul Annacone, the former LTA head of men’s coaching, into his set-up and marked that association with victory in the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 arena in London last month.
Robin Söderling, the Swede who reached the past two French Open finals and is ranked No 5 in the world, recently started to work with Claudio Pistolesi, the Italian, after parting with Magnus Norman. Everyone is trying to find that extra edge.
These easily identifiable players will be joined in the main draw for the Open by the 25-year-old Marinko Matosevic, an Australian of Croatian descent who won the last five games in succession yesterday to beat Peter Luczak in the wild-card play-off to earn a place in the 128-man field.
Matosevic is highly regarded by no less than Pat Rafter, the new Australia Davis Cup captain, who wants a few players to spark life into the men’s game in his country as Lleyton Hewitt’s career winds down.
“Mato just wants to be part of it,” Rafter said. “He’s about 130 in the world but he’s a ball of energy, he’s off the Richter Scale a bit temperament-wise but so positive and fun to be around. You want team members with that kind of passion.”
Those who have served
Leon Smith As a young coach in Scotland, was the perfect fit for the youthful Murray. Spent five years guiding him through the junior ranks.
Pato Alvarez Resident coach at the Sánchez-Casal Academy in Barcelona, helped Murray through the initial period of elevation from the juniors to senior tennis.
Mark Petchey Former Davis Cup international teamed up in 2005 and oversaw his rise from 350 into the top 50 on the ATP World Tour. Returned to Sky TV in 2007.
Brad Gilbert One-time coach to Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi, the fast-talking American was regarded as the one to make a grand-slam champion of him. Stayed 16 months.
Miles Maclagan Another former Great Britain Davis Cup player, was recruited a week after the departure of Gilbert. Coached Murray to two grand-slam finals. The pair parted after Wimbledon this year.
Alex Corretja The Spanish former grand-slam finalist joined Team Murray in 2008 to work part-time with him at big events and remains in that position.
December 20 2010 12:00AM
Those coaches who had hoped to receive a Christmas message to go and work with Andy Murray will have to look elsewhere for employment. The world No 4 has chosen to spend at least the first six months of 2011 in the company of those who helped him to gather up the post-Wimbledon pieces in 2010.
Since the departure of Miles Maclagan from Team Murray in the immediate aftermath of his semi-final defeat at the championships, the Scot has preferred a low-key approach, with Alex Corretja, the Spaniard, retaining a consultancy position and Dani Vallverdu, his old chum from their Barcelona academy days, travelling as a hitting partner and opposition scout.
As his preparation for the new season continues at a training camp in Miami, Florida, the word from Murray is that he has resisted the temptation to go for a full-time appointment and would rather work a lot more out for himself. It is a courageous move and one that will cause raised eyebrows through the tennis community.
There was no shortage of prominent teachers who would have liked a word with Murray — the best player to have emerged in the past decade not to have won a grand-slam tournament — but the decision reached this weekend is, in his view, the best possible compromise.
Corretja, a former world No 2 and twice French Open runner-up, has become a valued friend and quiet, undemonstrative coach while Vallverdu, the Venezuelan, is not only his best friend but keeps the atmosphere in the camp light and uncomplicated.
What it shows more than anything is that Murray wants to be his own man and make the decisions, on and off the court, on which his future promise rests. As he reaches the age where more and more players in contemporary tennis attain the peak of their talent, he is willing to shoulder more rather than less of the burden.
Murray has said that he has “a pretty broad taste which it comes to coaches”. Corretja, the latest, is a highly respected Spaniard who, safe to say, does not have an enemy in the world. When he came on board in April 2008, it was thought that Corretja was being brought in largely to help Murray to conquer any clay-court demons, but there is more to the relationship now than a one-surface cure-all.
Corretja’s initial instincts were that “Andy is willing to do what needs to be done and he learns so fast. There is so much more to his game than most players, even Spanish clay-court players. He wants to be perfect, but you don’t always have to be perfect to win. Even Rafael Nadal accepts that.”
Corretja will be on the practice courts and in the stands at Melbourne Park next month as Murray attempts to go one better at the Australian Open than in January. The preparation for the first grand-slam tournament of the year will be precisely the same as 2010, a week spent playing singles and mixed doubles with Laura Robson at the Hyundai Hopman Cup in Perth before decamping to Melbourne.
In the past few months there has been the odd subtle change in the set-ups of the leading male players. Roger Federer, who defeated Murray in this year’s Melbourne final, brought Paul Annacone, the former LTA head of men’s coaching, into his set-up and marked that association with victory in the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 arena in London last month.
Robin Söderling, the Swede who reached the past two French Open finals and is ranked No 5 in the world, recently started to work with Claudio Pistolesi, the Italian, after parting with Magnus Norman. Everyone is trying to find that extra edge.
These easily identifiable players will be joined in the main draw for the Open by the 25-year-old Marinko Matosevic, an Australian of Croatian descent who won the last five games in succession yesterday to beat Peter Luczak in the wild-card play-off to earn a place in the 128-man field.
Matosevic is highly regarded by no less than Pat Rafter, the new Australia Davis Cup captain, who wants a few players to spark life into the men’s game in his country as Lleyton Hewitt’s career winds down.
“Mato just wants to be part of it,” Rafter said. “He’s about 130 in the world but he’s a ball of energy, he’s off the Richter Scale a bit temperament-wise but so positive and fun to be around. You want team members with that kind of passion.”
Those who have served
Leon Smith As a young coach in Scotland, was the perfect fit for the youthful Murray. Spent five years guiding him through the junior ranks.
Pato Alvarez Resident coach at the Sánchez-Casal Academy in Barcelona, helped Murray through the initial period of elevation from the juniors to senior tennis.
Mark Petchey Former Davis Cup international teamed up in 2005 and oversaw his rise from 350 into the top 50 on the ATP World Tour. Returned to Sky TV in 2007.
Brad Gilbert One-time coach to Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi, the fast-talking American was regarded as the one to make a grand-slam champion of him. Stayed 16 months.
Miles Maclagan Another former Great Britain Davis Cup player, was recruited a week after the departure of Gilbert. Coached Murray to two grand-slam finals. The pair parted after Wimbledon this year.
Alex Corretja The Spanish former grand-slam finalist joined Team Murray in 2008 to work part-time with him at big events and remains in that position.
