Mentor Murray marches on with search for a star
Andy Murray is expected to fly out to Miami to begin training this weekend as he steps up preparations for his scheduled return to action at Brisbane in the new year.
The 30-year-old Scot, recovering from a hip injury, has also made plans to spend Christmas in australia for the first time to ensure he has the best build-up to his first tournament in five and a half months.
He is keen to underline his commitment to a comeback, despite yesterday announcing three signings to his management group, ‘77’, who will be mentored by the three-time Sports Personality of the year.
Murray has taken on British sprinters Shannon and Cheriece Hylton and Scottish junior tennis player aidan McHugh, an indication that he is nearer the end of his playing career than the beginning.
However, his company’s pursuit of young talent to nurture is nothing new, and certainly pre- dates the emergence of the serious hip problems that curtailed his season.
For well over a year, Murray and his associates have been trying to sign sportspeople to manage, and securing the right recruits has not been straightforward.
They have spoken to young boxers, among others, and came close to a long-term agreement with leading English golfer Matthew Fitzpatrick, with whom there were ultimately fruitless negotiations.
The hip, rather than business ventures, is much more of an issue in terms of Murray’s future as a player.
‘When you start out on a career in sport, it’s not easy for athletes and their families to make the right decisions or find the right people to trust,’ said Murray, who has been generous with his time in supporting lesser tennis compatriots, often from the stands. ‘Growing up I made decisions that, with experience, I might not have made now.
‘The three athletes we are working with are all bright, hard-working athletes, who are doing plenty of things right, but if I can offer them some advice along the way, then great. I’m looking forward to building a stable of talent across a variety of different sports.’
Barring setbacks it seems he will be back for the australian Open, but there is still no certainty that the honeymooning Serena Williams will return in time to defend her title in Melbourne, according to her long-time coach, Frenchman Patrick Mouratoglou.
There are, however, plenty of indications that she will come back next season — it just seems a question of when. Williams is on honeymoon on a private island in the Bahamas with husband alexis Ohanian, the two of them having tied the knot earlier this month after the birth of their daughter alexis Olympia, who is also with them.