MURRAY: EMMA NEEDS COACHING STABILITY
Andy MURRAy has expressed the hope Emma Raducanu can properly nail down her arrangement with his former fitness coach, to avoid the physical problems that have dogged her all year.
Raducanu has recruited Jez Green to supervise her ahead of next season, but there remain questions about how much time he can dedicate to her in the long term. He is also under contract to work with another former US Open champion, dominic Thiem.
As Murray knows from his own developmental years, having a stable fitness regime is a non-negotiable in the modern game. Green has been overseeing Raducanu’s training block but also has commitments with the Austrian. Raducanu is presently unable to hit due to a sore wrist and will miss next week’s Billie Jean King Cup finals in Glasgow.
‘I think with any coaching relationship, whether it’s strength and conditioning or tennis, it’s making sure you’re spending enough time with that person to really make a difference,’ said Murray yesterday, as he prepares to wrap up his season at the Paris Masters.
‘Unless you really dedicate the time to it, it is difficult to make a difference. So if they get to spend enough time together, I’m sure that would be helpful. If it’s not Jez, then a strength and conditioning coach full-time I’m sure would be helpful for her.’
Murray will today play French veteran Gilles Simon, and the Scot is part of a GB quartet carving out a small slice of history this week. Since the Masters level of elite events on the ATP Tour (the tier below the Grand Slams) was introduced nearly 33 years ago, this is the first time four British men have gone straight into the main draw without going through qualifying or receiving wildcards.
That is by virtue of having four players inside the top 50, which also contains Cam norrie, dan Evans and the fast-rising Jack draper.
novak djokovic will play his first Masters-level event here this week since the Spring, due to his vaccine-related absences, and Rafael nadal is back after «
becoming a father.