TIM Henman has advised Andy Murray to stick with his current coaching team for the foreseeable future and cast doubt over speculation about a reunion with his former mentor Ivan Lendl. The 41-year-old, who will play two exhibition events in Scotland this year, at the Brodies' legends invitational event at Gleneagles in June then the 'Andy Murray Live' show at the Hydro in September, believes the Scot's current coach Jamie Delgado has a lot to offer and his triumph in Rome last week is evidence of a team is working smoothly since the departure of Amelie Mauresmo.
While Murray will go into Roland Garros with the help of Delgado, his usual fitness staff and occasional tactical and technical assistance from Davis Cup duo Leon Smith and Louis Cayer, he hinted in Rome that he could road test someone new during the grass court season. The suggestion that he could "compromise" over his training locations was seen as a potential olive branch to Czech legend Lendl, who mentored him to two Grand Slam wins and an Olympic singles title.
"First and foremost I would say it is Andy's decision, he has got to do what he thinks is best," Henman told Herald Sport. "But in my opinion I would be saying just absolutely keep it as it is. Jamie Delgado has done a great job - he is someone I went to school with from the age of 12 or 13 and I have known him for a long time. He did a great job with Gilles Muller, whom he took from 400 in the world to the top 50.
"You look at his schedule coming up, with Roland Garros, Wimbledon, the Olympics and then the US Open," he said. "It is a very difficult time to bring someone new in. Therefore in my opinion I would just keep going. More of the same, because he is absolutely doing all the right things. I don't think he needs anyone else."
Asked specifically on the big hitters of the sport like Lendl, John McEnroe or Andre Agassi, Henman gave the idea short shrift. "I will believe that [a reunion with Lendl] when I see that," said Henman. "I would be surprised. Andy was one of the first to employ one of these big name coaches and Lendl had a huge impact, I don't think you can deny that. It definitely helped him but whether you go back to that I don't know. I only worked with three coaches in my professional career. McEnroe or Agassi? Not a hope. McEnroe is busier than all of us put together, so absolutely no chance and likewise Agassi, he is not going to be wanting to travel 25 weeks a year."
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