No major titles led to Mauresmo split: Murray

Lack of time together also reason, says world number three.

ROME: Andy Murray confirmed on Tuesday that a failure to win a third Grand Slam title was among the factors which finally caused him and coach Amelie Mauresmo to end their relationship on the eve of the French Open.

The Scot world number three is now playing a final Roland Garros tune-up at the Rome Masters this week without two-time Grand Slam winner Mauresmo in his corner.

Murray, the first major men’s player to choose a female as coach when he and Frenchwoman Mauresmo got together in spring, 2014, said the pair made it work through the end of last season.

The Scot, who turns 29 at the weekend, said he was at low ebb in his game when Mauresmo began helping him in 2014. The relationship produced seven ATP titles and a pair of Australian Open finals.

“For two years, I think the results were good,” said Murray. “But unless I win a Grand Slam, then ultimately that’s how people judge whether it worked or not.”

He further added: “When she came on board, my results really picked up. The time we spent together was positive. It’s just a shame I wasn’t able to win one of the major events, because that’s what both of us wanted. It became difficult with the amount of time required to do the job and the amount of time we were able to work together.”

Murray arrived in Rome after losing the Madrid final as defending champion against Novak Djokovic.

The Scot was quick to add that Mauresmo’s gender had nothing to do with the parting of ways.

“It’s nothing to do with Amelie being a woman. It just takes a lot of time to do the job [as an ex-player] well and properly. It’s not easy to do that for four, five years in a row.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2016.

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