Tennis world reacts to Mauresmo becoming Murray's coach

Image
AFP London
Last Updated : Jun 10 2014 | 10:59 AM IST
Wimbledon champion Andy Murray shocked the tennis world when he hired Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo as his new coach at the weekend.
Murray is the only player in the men's top 10 to have a female coach and his decision to appoint Mauresmo, a former world number one and Wimbledon winner, will be closely scrutinised over the coming weeks as the Scot prepares to defend his Wimbledon title.
The surprise move has provoked differing opinions in the tennis community and here AFP takes a look at the reaction from some of the sport's leading personalities:
17-time Grand Slam singles champion Roger Federer - "I think it is very interesting. I always enjoyed watching her play and she is a true professional.
"So from that standpoint, I think it's a great choice and I hope they're going to be a successful team together."
12-time Grand Slam singles champion Billie Jean King - "It is not the gender of the coach that is important, it is the strength of the relationship between the coach and the player that will make the partnership work.
"Women have coached men for years, going back to Bobby Riggs and Eleanor Tennant."
Former world number one Jim Courier - "It's a bold call, certainly an interesting one. Amelie knows her tennis and time will tell whether it turns out to be a good match.
"It's bold, it's fun, it's something we're all going to be talking about and good for Andy."
18-time Grand Slam singles champion Martina Navratilova - "An interesting call by Andy Murray. Cool to see a woman coaching a top guy. Hope it works out for them."
Brad Gilbert, one of Murray's former coaches - "I think this is good news for Murray. She should be a calming influence.
"She was a smart player with an outstanding knowledge of the game who brings a fresh perspective and I think she will add a lot to Andy's team.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jun 10 2014 | 10:59 AM IST

Next Story