Andy Murray admitted today that it “might take a bit of time” for him to find the right coach to further his career.
The British No 1 is continuing the search for someone to fill the role on a permanent basis after parting ways with Alex Corretja, his part-time consultant, last month.
Murray has suffered an alarming slump in form since losing the Australian Open final to Novak Djokovic in January. The 23-year-old has lost his first match at three consecutive tournaments, failing to claim even a single set.
The two most recent of those were defeats by Donald Young and Alex Bogomolov Jr, both ranked outside the top 100, at the Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami. It is by far the worst run in his professional career and he has accepted a wild card into the Monte Carlo Masters, which begins on Saturday, in an attempt to revive his fortunes.
“I’d like to make a decision as soon as possible but you need to find the right person. People think it’s an easy thing to do, but it’s not,” Murray, who has not had a full-time coach since splitting from Miles Maclagan in July last year, said today. “There aren’t that many people with a lot of experience who are willing to give up 30-35 weeks of the year travelling and coming to where you are training.
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“Roger Federer probably does 20-25 weeks per year with Paul Annacone. Rafael Nadal’s uncle [Toni Nadal] doesn’t travel to all the events with him. Novak Djokovic has someone there full-time who’s pretty much there the whole time.
“I’ve spoken to a few people and have obviously thought about it quite a lot. But there might have to be a bit of sacrifice on my part to go and train wherever the coach is to make it easier for them.”
Having suffered a similar lapse in the wake of his loss in last year’s final in Melbourne to Roger Federer, the three-times grand-slam finalist revealed today that in the meantime he would be working with experts from the addidas player development program.
“They have some great people working within it and they are around for a lot of the tournaments,” Murray, whose former coaches include Mark Petchey, the former British player, and Brad Gilbert, the American, said. “It’s not the fix to what I’m looking for, but short-term, while I’m looking for the right person, there are some people there with a lot of experience who can help me.”
Murray, who despite his recent poor results climbed to back to No 4 in the world rankings this week, also confirmed today that he will prepare for Wimbledon by competing in the AEGON Championships in June.
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He joins Nadal and Djokovic - the top two players in the world - in committing himself to the tournament and will be hoping to have rediscovered the form that saw him reclaim the title in London two years ago, before hitting the grass at Queen’s club.
“Winning my first grass court title here in 2009 was an amazing feeling,” Murray, who became the first Briton to triumph at the London event since Henry Austin in 1938, said. “It means a lot to me to have my name on the trophy next to great champions such as John McEnroe, Pete Sampras and Rafael Nadal who have won it in the past.
“The Queen’s Club has some of the best grass courts in the world and usually players that have done well at there have gone on to do well at Wimbledon. I can’t wait to get playing.”
Murray lost to Mardy Fish in the last 16 a year ago but went on reach the semi-finals at Wimbledon, where he lost to eventual champion Rafael Nadal.