MURRAY’S BACKROOM AIDE READY TO JUMP SHIP

ANDY MURRAY’S trusted lieutenant Dani Vallverdu is believed to be considering his future with the deposed Wimbledon champion as the fallout from Wednesday’s quarter-final letdown continues. With Amelie Mauresmo having departed back to France, there was still no official word from the Murray camp yesterday following discussions on the way forward, suggesting issues are still to be resolved. Among them, according to well-placed sources, is said to be the future of the 28-year-old Venezuelan (right), who for nearly four years has been a constant at the side of Murray. The pair met when they were students at a Barcelona Tennis Academy and Vallverdu’s influence in Murray’s major successes tends to have been underrated as he has worked largely in the shadow of high-profile figures like Ivan Lendl and, for the past few weeks, Mauresmo. While he has got on well with the former French player, as Murray has done, a point of contention is said to have been the manner of her appointment. While Vallverdu was kept in the loop throughout the process of Lendl being brought in, he and other members of the backroom staff are said to have been taken by surprise that talks with Mauresmo were as far as advanced as they were in Paris. That has added to a growing sense of being under-appreciated, which may have been exacerbated by what happened on Wednesday. While Murray watchers will know that outbursts at his box are nothing new, the focus is magnified at Wimbledon. Lendl would go out of his way to praise Vallverdu’s role in a team that is clearly under evaluation by Murray as he plots how to get back towards the top. During the Czech’s increasingly long absences towards the end of the partnership, Vallverdu, who was unavailable for comment yesterday, was the ever-present. His role remains vital as it is clear that, even if Mauresmo continues, she does not want to travel full-time on the tour. Murray is keen to restart training soon in Miami and Vallverdu would be expected to supervise that while Mauresmo takes a holiday. But he is said to want assurances about his role and stature within the team. Other members, such as fitness trainer Jez Green, are also believed to be demanding that a clear structure is established if Mauresmo is going to be in for the long haul. Vallverdu, a mild-mannered and genial former top American college player who is well-liked on the tour, knows Murray better than anyone. As well as having a good tennis brain, he understands the 27-year-old Scot’s moods and demands for perfection and it would be a major blow to him if he were to depart.