Andy Murray has appointed former Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo as his new coach.
Although initially denied, there always seemed to be something in it when she turned up to watch the whole of his first match at the French Open and reputable sources suggested that contact had been made between them.
Murray knew that he could not replicate the presence of Lendl – who had little coaching experience before their famously successful partnership, but what he is looking for is someone who can add that little extra input which, at the rarefied level he plays at, can be the difference between winning and losing.
The appointment is initially for the grasscourt season spanning Queen's and Wimbledon, but it has very much been made with the longer term in mind.
'I'm excited by the possibilities of the new partnership and Amelie is someone I have always looked up to and admired,' said Murray of the appointment.
'She's faced adversity plenty of times in her career, but was an amazing player and won major titles, including Wimbledon.
'I have a very strong coaching team already in place, but I think Amelie brings with her experience and tactical expertise and will push us all to improve. Everyone I know talks very highly of Amelie, as a person and coach, and I'm convinced that her joining the team will help us push on - I want to win more grand slams.'
As Murray said in response toSportsmail'sstory that Mauresmo was in the frame, the presence of a woman can tame the egos that sometimes prevail when you have an all-male team.
And she is someone he can respect as she is a proven winner like he is, rather than purely a professional coach who can work as a technician on his game, which is unlikely to radically change anyway at this point of his career.
'I'm really excited to be able to work with Andy,' said Mauresmo, who won Wimbledon and the Australian Open in 2006.
'He's an amazingly talented tennis player and I feel I have plenty to offer both him and the team around him. I'm looking forward to getting down to work and helping him win more Grand Slams.
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