• ATP Tour

Murray reveals difference of opinion with coach

Andy Murray is in Los Angeles this week for the Farmers Classic © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Murray looking to attack under new coach
  
• News: Murray blows match point as Querrey wins title
  
• News: Murray off to a winning start in Los Angeles
  
• Features: Chris Wilkinson: Murray ready for new challenge
  
• News: Murray splits with coach
  
• Profile: Andy Murray

Andy Murray believes his split with coach Miles Maclagan was necessary in order to move his career forward.

The world No. 4 announced he had parted company with Maclagan on Tuesday after two-and-a-half years working together.

Murray is in Los Angeles this week for the Farmers Classic, where he is the top seed in what will be his first appearance since his semi-final defeat to Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon. He admitted it was not easy to part with his coach, but insisted it was the best for his career after meeting with Maclagan and advisor Alex Corretja in Miami earlier this month.

"It obviously was a hard decision and one that wasn't the nicest thing to have to take," Murray said. "But it wasn't that tough to make up my mind because we were quite far apart in what we thought."

"It wasn't necessarily something that Miles wasn't bringing. We had a chat when we were in Miami about how we saw things. We all saw things pretty differently. Between the three of us we obviously had different ideas and different ways of seeing things, what I felt was beneficial to me and what Miles and Alex felt was beneficial to me.

"I need to be comfortable in the set-up that I have - have 100% confidence that everyone that's working with me believes it's the right thing to do. The last few years have gone very, very well, but I want to try and get to No. 1 in the world and try to win Grand Slams."

Murray now turns his focus to the US Open at the end of August, and will then commence the search for a replacement for Maclagan. Australian Darren Cahill, who formerly worked with Andre Agassi, has been linked with the vacancy.

Maclagan's reign as Murray's coach saw him guide him to a career high No. 2 in the world, as well as two Grand Slam finals and 11 ATP Tour titles. Murray has struggled with his form since his Australian Open defeat to Roger Federer in January, but he insists there is nothing wrong with his game.

"It's easy to start over-thinking things and over-analysing things," he said. "I don't think there's a problem with my game. I just need to get better, and that's something that maybe hasn't happened the last four or five months.

"Hopefully by getting a new coach and a new coaching team in place, that will help me do that, and hopefully achieve my goals."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.