• Tennis

Murray weighing up McEnroe as coach

Andy Murray: "I don't want the wrong person in place by the French Open. I'd rather wait and get the right person" © Getty Images

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Andy Murray has admitted he could consider hiring seven-time grand slam winner John McEnroe as his new coach.

McEnroe, who has never coached professionally and works as a television commentator, has expressed an interest in working with Wimbledon champion Murray, who split with Ivan Lendl in March.

"Every player would consider someone with his credentials," Murray told the BBC.

"When you are very competitive as a player, you are likely to be the same as a coach and that's also a benefit.

"He was a great player and he's always kept an interest in the game, which is important. He has a great knowledge of the sport."

With the French Open beginning on May 25, Murray also admitted he is prepared to wait until after Wimbledon, which finishes on July 6, to make an appointment.

"It depends how I do in the next couple of weeks," he said. "If I do well, I'm not going to have that much time. If I don't do so well, I'll have a little bit more time to think about it and chat to people.

"I need to have the right person in place. I don't want to have the wrong person in place by the French Open. I'd rather wait a few weeks and get the right person three weeks after Wimbledon."

Murray, who missed Roland Garros last year through injury, starts his Madrid Masters campaign against Nicolas Almagro - who beat Rafael Nadal in Barcelona - on Monday and will also compete at the Rome Masters the week after.

"Roland Garros is a goal of mine," Murray said. "I'd like to be playing my best tennis by the time I get there.

"He's [Almagro] one of the best clay-court players in the world. He'll be playing at home. He's one of the toughest opening matches I could have had."

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