• Tennis

Murray set to fast-track new coach

ESPN staff
May 9, 2014
Murray crashes out of the Madrid Open

Andy Murray has hinted that his dismal showing at the Madrid Open could fast forward his search for a new coach.

Murray was hardly on form as he eked past a hobbling Nicolas Almagro in the second round, and his display against world No.46 Santiago Giraldo was equally erratic as the Colombian qualifier celebrated his first win over a top 10 player at the 20th attempt

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It left Murray, who had originally said he would take his time hiring a new coach, admitting he is missing Ivan Lendl - who quit in March - and will need to get someone quicker than originally anticipated.

"My coach is missing," he said following the 6-3 6-2 defeat. "That's quite a big part of my team. I'll take the next couple of days to think about the coaching situation. I want to try to get someone in soon."

Murray, who last week told the BBC he was weighing up John McEnroe as his next coach, revealed he is feeling a bit lost without an influential presence by his side.

"It's tough," he added. "Some days I'm playing well and then the next day I'm not playing well, so I need to become more consistent.

"My best tennis, or my sort of base level, has to stay the same for a lot longer.

"It's not necessarily about practising loads of stuff on the court. I need to be mentally stronger and more switched on for longer."

Murray's early exit in Madrid could see him employ a new coach prior to the French Open, which starts on May 25.

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