Murray and Gilbert to split
Andy Murray has decided to seperate with coach Brad Gilbert
Also In The News
|
Vertigo, out November 12th. |  |
Wednesday, 14, Nov 2007 10:25
British number one Andy Murray has officially announced his intention to part company with his current coach Brad Gilbert.
Murray, the world number 11, teamed up with Gilbert in July last year at the behest of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), who made a significant contribution to the hiring of the coach and the paying of his wages for working with the 20-year-old.
But in a statement on the player's website today, Murray confirmed his intention to split with the American.
"Despite being injured for almost four months this year, I am pleased with my 2007 results and am very grateful for the help that the LTA have given me by providing Brad Gilbert as a coach," the statement reads.
"But the time has come to move on to the next stage of my career."
Murray said that rather than hire another individual coach he would prefer to work with a team of professionals, each to play a specific role in the development of his game.
He also highlighted the fact that his professional earnings were at a sufficient level to allow him to fund his own coaching team rather than rely on funding from the LTA.
"I am ranked 11 in the world and can now afford to pay my own way," the statement continued.
"I will now hire a team of experts, each to fulfil a specified role in the development of my tennis and fitness."
With his season now over, Murray will take a break over the winter before beginning his close-season preparations for 2008.
And as part of those preparations he is expected to begin naming individuals to be included in his new-look coaching set-up.