Sport

Amelie Mauresmo returns to Andy Murray’s coaching set-up

World number two will leave Australian Open early if wife Kim goes into labour

Andy Murray has welcomed Amelie Mauresmo back into his coaching set-up ahead of January’s Australian Open. Photograph: PA
Andy Murray has welcomed Amelie Mauresmo back into his coaching set-up ahead of January’s Australian Open. Photograph: PA
Wed Dec 16 2015 - 11:41

Andy Murray will make changes to his coaching team ahead of his quest for a first Australian Open title in January following the return of Amelie Mauresmo.

Mauresmo linked back up with Murray at his training camp in Dubai this week for the first time since taking a break from the sport to give birth to her first child in August.

The return of Mauresmo to his camp means Murray will part company with Jonas Bjorkman, who had taken on an increasingly important role in the Frenchwoman's temporary absence.

Murray wrote on Facebook: “Nice to have Amelie back in the team out in Dubai. Thanks to Jonas for helping out this year. I enjoyed working with one of the nicest guys on the tour, bring on 2016.”

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It remains unclear the extent to which Mauresmo will continue to work with Murray given her priorities, and the Scot is on the look-out for another full-time member of his coaching team.

The new addition would be expected to support Mauresmo, but any appointment is not expected to be made until after Murray’s Australian campaign.

Murray has made it clear that he is prepared to leave the Australian Open early if necessary to attend the birth of his first child.

The world number two, who has been a losing finalist on four occasions in Melbourne, revealed he will withdraw from the tournament if his wife Kim goes into premature labour.

The Australian Open runs from January 18-31 with Murray’s first child due in February.

“I’d go home. For sure, yes,” Murray told the Daily Mail.

“It’s obviously important. I want to make sure at the beginning I am there as much as I can be to try and help out, just be there for whatever is really required of me.”

Murray, who recently led Great Britain to Davis Cup glory, also explained that the decision to complete his pre-season training camp in Dubai was motivated by better transport links back to the UK.

“I was either going to go to Dubai or Miami but because obviously Kim is quite heavily pregnant it’s a lot easier to get back from here,” he added. “All the flights leave in the evening from Miami, whereas here you can fly at all times in the day.”

The British number one will be back on home shores for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony in Belfast on Sunday.