Murray in no hurry to find new coach

Andy Murray says he is in no rush to find a new coach such is his form heading into the French Open.

Murray – who split from coach Amelie Mauresmo earlier this month – beat Novak Djokovic for the first time on clay last week to win the Italian Open.

The presence of Jamie Delgado in his team means the world number two is in “less of a rush” to replace Mauresmo.

The Briton said: “I’m playing very well so there’s no need to make a change a few days before the French.”

Former British player Delgado joined Murray’s set-up in February and his first tournament as the 29-year-old’s sole coach ended with Murray beating world number one Djokovic in Rome.

The Scot said he had not spoken to any prospective coaches but was open to the idea of bringing someone new into his team.

“We chatted about it a little bit after Rome, but nothing too in depth,” added the Scot.

“Most of my focus, and I think my team’s focus, is getting me ready here. I’ll obviously chat more to them about it if there’s something that we think would be able to help – I’m all for that.

“Right now is a difficult time to make a change and, to be honest, why would I? Maybe [I’ll] have another look during the grass [court season] to see if there’s potential to try something out there.

“There’s less rush because Jamie’s committed to doing 35 to 40 weeks a year with me and we’re going to be working together every week through until Wimbledon, so I have that continuity and consistency, which I didn’t have last year with Amelie and Jonas [Bjorkman].

“That’s why there’s less of a need or a rush to bring someone in immediately, unless it’s the right person and the right situation.”

Delgado is a good coach – Murray

Asked whether he could stick with Delgado, Murray said: “That’s possible, for sure.

“I’m always looking to improve, so if there is something that I feel could help me, then for sure I would look into that in terms of another person to help out, and also to give him [Delgado] a break as well from time to time.

“Travelling every single week during the year and every practice week is tough, and it’s the beginning of our relationship just now. Normally over time, when you spend so much time with each other, having a little bit of separation can be good, too.”

Delgado, whose highest ranking was world number 121, retired from playing in September 2014, aged 37, to focus on coaching Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller, whom he guided into the top 40.

“He’s pretty calm. He’s a relaxed guy. On top of that, he’s very, very experienced around the tour. He’s played whatever it was, 23 Wimbledons in a row, so he’s been around the game a long, long time,” said Murray, who will aim to win his first French Open title over the next fortnight.

Murray will play 37-year-old Radek Stepanek in the first round of the French Open, which starts on Sunday, and the draw has been kind to the three-time semi-finalist.

Serbia’s Ivo Karlovic and John Isner – who have never beaten the British number one – are the seeds in his section, as is in-form fifth seed Kei Nishikori.

Nine-time champion Rafael Nadal and top seed Djokovic are on opposite sides of the draw, while his potential semi-final opponent could be defending champion Stan Wawrinka.

Murray’s compatriots, Aljaz Bedene and Kyle Edmund, will also face qualifiers – Gerald Melzer of Austria and world number 105 Nikoloz Basilashvili respectively.

Konta, Watson and Robson predict tough starts

Britain’s highest-ranked female is world number 22 Johanna Konta, who is competing in the main draw at Roland Garros for the first time.

The 25-year-old reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January and begins her tournament against Germany’s Julia Goerges, thirty-eight places below her in the rankings.

“I’ve got to know her reasonably well. She’s a really nice girl and a wonderful player,” said the British number one. “It’ll be an incredibly tough battle but I’m looking forward to it.”

Fellow Britons Heather Watson, Laura Robson and Naomi Broady will face Nicole Gibbs, Andrea Petkovic and Coco Vandeweghe respectively.

Watson, 24, said: “I’ve played her once before a couple of years ago, so it’ll be a very different match now.

“Every match in a Grand Slam is against a tough opponent, so I’m going to have to be ready for that one. I’m feeling great about how I’m playing.”

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