In 2007, Andy Murray left Brad Gilbert and decided to work with someone closer to his style. Brad Gilbert may have worked a number of years with Andre Agassi, but Gilbert is known to be “in your face”. He not only coaches, but has a habit of dominating your life with his opinionated manner. He worked briefly with Andy Roddick who won his only Slam underneath his tutelage, but even that success was not enough to prevent Roddick from deciding to end that relationship and Murray, who was tired of fighting with Gilbert for his ideas, also parted ways.
Murray had been criticized for his lack of fitness often bailing out of 5 set matches because he lacked the endurance to compete until the end. He enlisted the help of Miles Maclagan plus an array of fitness/agility coaches and this ultimately lead him to a number 2 ranking, though that was more due to Nadal’s injuries than excellence on Murray’s part. Murray would reach his first Slam final in 2008, then his second in 2010. Still, he was the highest ranked player never to have won a Slam. Djokovic may have had issues of his own, and he may have lucked out twice when he beat a mono-ridden Federer and faced an untested Jo-Wilfried Tsonga instead of Rafael Nadal, but he has his one Slam.
Murray announced yesterday that he was no longer working with Miles Maclagan, It is unclear who he is working with. He had been working with Alex Corretja, but it’s unclear whether he continues to work with Corretja. One imagines that he is still with his physio and fitness staff, and the only person that has left is Maclagan.
This announcement comes at the heels of Federer announcing that he will work with Paul Annacone. Federer never quite seems prepared to call a person his coach, but more as an advisor, much like his relationship with Jose Higueras.
Murray has not announced a replacement for Maclagan. The timing is interesting because it’s just after Wimbledon and just starting the main hardcourt season leading to the US Open. Murray took a wildcard into LA much like Roddick took a wildcard into Atlanta.
UPDATE: There is a rumor that not only is Murray parting ways with Maclagan but also Corretja, and that he is seeking to work with Darren Cahill. Cahill coached Agassi after Agassi parted ways with Brad Gilbert. Federer had sought Cahill’s services, but they never got to an agreement.