Jamie Murray�s search for a new long-term doubles partner finally ended with the news that he has persuaded accomplished doubles specialist Max Mirnyi to team up with him for most of the 2008 season.

Jamie Murray's search for a new long-term doubles partner finally ended with the news that he has persuaded accomplished doubles specialist Max Mirnyi to team up with him for most of the 2008 season.

Murray will play with Mirnyi at the first event of the season in Doha and will then keep a long-standing agreement with Kevin Ullyett to play the Australian Open before joining up with Mirnyi again for what he hopes will be a lasting partnership.

Since deciding in July to split with Eric Butorac, with whom he won three ATP Tour titles, Murray has struggled to find a replacement for the American. He is, though, rightly delighted to have landed Mirnyi. The 30-year-old, who is nicknamed "the Beast of Belarus" for his powerful physique and devastating shotmaking, ended this season ranked 16 in doubles but is a former world No.1 in the discipline and has won four grand slam doubles titles with different partners. No wonder Murray was so keen to persuade him to team up.

"I was kind of hassling him a little bit to email me and see what he wanted to do," said 21-year-old Murray, who will begin 2008 ranked 32 in doubles.

"I didn't really think it would happen, if I'm honest. It took me a while to find someone. I held off and held off, but I think I have found the right one now. I am more excited about it rather than relieved. I don't see why we can't do well in the big tournaments. Max and I both play quite a similar kind of style, which I think will work well. He serves big, volleys well and has a great presence. I think he's a great player."

Murray, who won this year's Wimbledon mixed doubles title with Jelena Jankovic, is likely to partner Liezel Huber at the Australian Open, with whom he reached the semi-finals of the US Open mixed doubles.

"I think we'll play unless he dumps me for Jelena," said Huber, with a laugh.