ANDY MURRAY is preparing for a small step into the unknown when he returns to the ATP Tour without coach Amelie Mauresmo.
But one of his former coaches has backed Jonas Bjorkman to take up the slack smoothly as Mauresmo embarks on maternity leave.
Murray was a semi-finalist at Wimbledon, losing to an inspired Roger Federer, before leading emotionally and by example as Great Britain beat France 3-1 to reach the Davis Cup semi-final.
After a deserved fortnight of rest, the Scot will next compete at the Citi Open in Washington DC from August 3, with Bjorkman front and centre having played a supporting role to Mauresmo since March.
Mark Petchey, who coached Murray in the fledgling stages of his career and helped him win his first ATP title aged 18, believes the easy-going Swede is a perfect fit in Murray's corner.
"You've got to get on, there's an awful lot of time when you're not hitting tennis balls," Petchey said. "I think Jonas and him will connect very well.
"You've got to find that balance and be someone who can give information in a nice way.
"That's what Andy has alluded to with Amelie: he's wanted someone to ask his opinion about how he's feeling rather than just being told one way of doing it.
"Some people like a dogmatic coach, one that just tells you things and they're robotic. Andy certainly isn't that way, he's got very strong feelings about how he wants to play this game – and rightly so because of the success he's had."
That certainly fits the approach of Bjorkman – who, upon beginning an initial five-week trial on Murray's coaching staff, pledged to bring enjoyment to their sessions and added: "I really like the way Amelie believes Andy should play."
That continuity will be important, with Mauresmo set to be away from the tour for the rest of the season and, in all likelihood, January's Australian Open.
Murray's remaining Davis Cup commitments will be the domain of team captain Leon Smith, but Bjorkman will be Murray's right-hand man for, at a minimum, the US Open, four ATP Masters 1000 events and the Barclays World Tour Finals.
All indications are that Britain's No.1 is in safe hands.
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