Andy Murray speaks with his coach Amelie Mauresmo on Saturday during practice ahead of the 2015 Wimbledon championship starting on Monday in London. Tim Ireland / AP / June 27, 2015
Andy Murray speaks with his coach Amelie Mauresmo on Saturday during practice ahead of the 2015 Wimbledon championship starting on Monday in London. Tim Ireland / AP / June 27, 2015

Andy Murray appreciates ‘different character’ of Amelie Mauresmo, aiding his resurgence



A feminine touch has helped Andy Murray get back to his best and the Briton has hailed the supportive influence of coach Amelie Mauresmo in his recent resurgence.

Murray endured a miserable end to last season, culminating in a 6-0, 6-1 rout by Roger Federer at the ATP Tour Finals, leaving him at a low ebb.

The rebound, however, was almost immediate. He reached the Australian Open final in January before returning to Europe for the claycourt swing, normally a barren period for the Scot, that delivered two unprecedented title triumphs.

A run to the French Open semi-finals and a narrow five-set defeat by world No 1 Novak Djokovic, his conqueror in Australia, will ensure he starts Wimbledon on Monday among the favourites to reclaim the crown he captured in 2013.

The Scot credits Mauresmo for guiding him through some testing times and contrasted the Frenchwoman’s approach to some of her predecessors.

“In the 12 months I’ve been with Amelie I feel like I’ve come through some difficult moments,” Murray told reporters at the All England Club on Saturday.

“Last year there were a lot of people doubting me. I feel like she stuck with me during that period.

“I had an extremely tough loss at the end of last year. I’m glad I’ve been able to repay her faith in me with some good tennis this year,” added Murray.

“She’s a very different character to some of the coaches I’ve had in the past.”

That was perhaps a veiled criticism of predecessor Ivan Lendl whose stern attitude was well-known.

Murray's mother Judy was quoted this week in the Telegraph newspaper contrasting Mauresmo's coaching with the Czech disciplinarian who led his charge to his two grand slam successes.

“If you remember Amelie as a player she had a lot of variety,” Judy said. “This mirrors what Andy does instinctively well.

“He probably lost a little bit of it during the time he was working with Ivan because Lendl would want to put aggression in his game more often.”

The world No 3 also recognises the momentum he has gained by amassing victories has been the biggest influence on his game in recent months.

“In any sport winning gives you confidence,” said Murray. “This year I’ve won a lot of matches, more than I ever have in my career to this point in a season.”

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Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

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