MURRAY ENDS JONAS DEAL

ANDY MURRAY has reacted to the return of Amelie Mauresmo by dispensing with the man who stood in for her, Jonas Bjorkman. The Swedish former player’s deal with Murray was due to end this month after a year in which the 28-year-old Scot enjoyed outstanding consistency. Murray will spend Christmas at home then fly to Perth, where he is playing in the Hopman Cup before the Australian Open. Bjorkman had already been told he would not be required in Australia next month. ‘Nice to have Amelie back in the team out in Dubai,’ Murray posted on his Facebook page. ‘Thanks to Jonas for helping out this year. I enjoyed working with one of the nicest guys on the tour, bring on 2016.’ I understand that a major factor in the decision is that Mauresmo has told Murray she will be able to fulfil a commitment to travel for between 22 and 24 weeks next year. When she gave birth to son Aaron in August there was doubt about how much time she could spend on tour. After Bjorkman joined up at the start of the clay court season, Murray went on to have his best season on his least-favoured surface, winning the prestigious Madrid Open and running Novak Djokovic close in the French Open semi-finals. Towards the end of the season his net play — an area where Bjorkman is an expert — was better than it has ever been. However, in the absence of Mauresmo, his old habit of taking out frustration on his team was returning. This was especially evident at the O2 Arena where he asked them to sit out of sight. Murray had made it clear that he does not want to have two senior coaches, which is why he wanted to spend his current mini-training block in Dubai with only Mauresmo.