I could not take things any further with Murray — Mauresmo

PARIS — Amelie Mauresmo ended her coaching relationship with Andy Murray because she felt she could not improve the world No. 2 any further, the former world No. 1 said Saturday. The Frenchwoman and Murray announced the end of an almost two-year partnership this month, but Mauresmo said the decision had been made some time ago. “Andy is complex. On court, he can be opposite of what he is in life. It can be confusing. I was here to help. I had the feeling I could not take things further anymore,” Mauresmo told L’Equipe Magazine. “I had the feeling that we were at the end of what we could do professionally. We came to the conclusion that it would be complicated to continue.” Mauresmo’s reluctance to commit as much time to coaching the world No. 2 following the birth of her son was cited as the main factor but it is now clear there was more to it. With Mauresmo, Briton Murray won seven ATP titles, claiming his first two trophies on clay in Madrid and Munich. “It was a beautiful adventure. A woman coaching a man, it breaks a few barriers in the world of men’s tennis,” she said. “I liked the way Andy works, I liked to work with his team. He’s very curious, always in research. That’s what makes great champions.” It was concluded that it would be difficult to continue. Murray’s camp have seen Mauresmo’s remarks and declined to respond, although he is understood to be relaxed about the comments. In an interview after winning the Italian Open last weekend Murray repeated that, ideally, he wanted a coach who was prepared to commit 25 weeks or more a year traveling with him on the Tour. That had been the source of discontent between himself and Ivan Lendl — whom he would nevertheless welcome back if they could sort out the timing. It is unlikely Lendl would commit to another term of coach, as he has opened his own coaching academy in Florida and spends a lot of time on the golf course. On Friday, Murray said he may consider a job-share for Jamie Delgado, who worked as an assistant to Mauresmo. Tim Henman, who has said he is not interested in the job, suggested last week Delgado, with whom he went to school and who has known Murray for a long time, would be an ideal full-time coach. The 29-year-old Murray, a former US Open and Wimbledon champion, is seeded second at the French Open which starts Sunday.