News Nation Logo

Andy Murray announces engagement to longtime girlfriend Kim Sears

Andy Murray Announced His Engagement To Longtime Girlfriend Kim Sears On Wednesday While Also Dispensing With Two Members Of His Backroom Staff In Dani Vallverdu And Jez Green.

PTI | Updated on: 28 Nov 2014, 02:04:43 PM

London:

Andy Murray announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Kim Sears on Wednesday while also dispensing with two members of his backroom staff in Dani Vallverdu and Jez Green.

The 2013 Wimbledon champion, who was originally coached by his mother, Judy, has retained Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo, herself a former Grand Slam winner, as his head coach, while his engagement to Sears follows their nine years as a couple.

But two of the men who have played such a big part in Murray’s professional life will no longer be involved after he parted company with friend and hitting partner Vallverdu and fitness coach Green.

Murray’s management company, who also announced his engagement, said the coaching split was “mutual”, with the 27-year-old Scot adding: “We sat down at the end of the season and decided that a change would be best for all of us.

“My off-season training and Australian Open preparations have already begun and I am very excited for the new year.

“I thank Jez and Dani for all their hard work over the years and wish them the best for the future.”

Murray and Vallverdu met at the Sanchez-Casal Academy in Spain as promising young players more than a decade ago, with the Venezuelan becoming a key member of the British player’s entourage.

Both Green and Vallverdu were said to be unhappy when Murray decided to appoint Mauresmo as his main coach in succession to Ivan Lendl in June, although the issue was reported to be a lack of consultation rather than consternation at their boss’s decision, unusual for a top male player, to have a woman as his head coach.

Murray has made significant changes to his coaching staff throughout his career, splitting with Brad Gilbert at the age of 20 despite Britain’s governing Lawn Tennis Association paying the American a hefty fee primarily just to coach him.

His decision to hire a former champion in Lendl in 2012 sparked similar moves from Roger Federer, who brought Stefan Edberg into his camp, and Novak Djokovic, who recruited Boris Becker to his team.

For all the Latest Sports News News, Tennis News News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.

First Published : 28 Nov 2014, 02:02:00 PM

Videos