Andy Murray has appointed Amelie Mauresmo as his new coach, replacing Ivan Lendll.
The question has to be "Why" ? Murray, as a double Grand Slam winner, needs little more than advice from the side lines on opponents vulnerabilities, his own style of play against specific individuals and a bit of psychological boosting. The first 2 he surely has from his existing team of coaches and helpers, the last is what he employed Lendll for. Lendll, of course, was a multiple finalist before winning a Grand Slam event, as was Murray, but he did go on to win 8 such events, making him one of the most successful players in tennis history. There was some logic to his appointment as Murray's coach.
Mauresmo, very good player though she was and a World number 1, struggled mightily when it came to winning Grand Slams. After reaching the final of the Australian Open when aged 19, Mauresmo had to wait another 7 years before she again experienced a Grand Slam singles final, finally winning the Australian championship in 2006 when Justine Henin was forced to retire through injury. That year, she also succeeded in winning the Wimbledon title, also against Henin, though on this occasion it was a full three set match. Nonetheless, Mauresmo's Grand Slam record is hardly that impressive and she has no obvious track record as a coach since her retirement in 2009. She did, admittedly, coach Marion Bartoli prior to her 2013 Wimbledon triumph but only became Bartoli's coach shortly before the tournament. Her other charges, Michel Llodra and Victoria Azarenka, were not noticeably improved by her presence.
Mauresmo has no personal understanding of the male game or psyche, and has little personal success at Grand Slam level; she was considered to be psychologically frail when it came to important matches. What does Murray think that Mauresmo can bring to his game ? How can she possibly be the right choice ? Or am I simply missing the point ?
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