Andy Murray has confirmed he is looking for additional coaching help, but says he has not committed to Loic Courteau for the position.
Murray's coach, Amelie Mauresmo, is only working with him part-time, having stayed on as France's Fed Cup captain, and childhood friend and assistant coach Dani Vallverdu recently left his team.
Speaking at a promotional appearance in Abu Dhabi, Murray said Vallverdu's position would have to be filled, since "he was doing about 40 weeks a year with me, Amelie is doing 25 weeks a year. So there’s obviously some weeks there where I’m going to need some more help and some more guidance, and it’s about finding the right person for me."
The 27-year-old said he has not made a decision, though he backed up reports that Mauresmo had recommended her former coach.
“Amelie suggested Loic who she obviously worked with when she was playing and felt that he was a very good coach for her," he said. "My feeling is that having someone that’s based in Miami or London, where I live, for the weeks when I come back from tournaments, so I have someone there all of the time, would be more beneficial for me. But I haven’t spoken to Loic, but I’m sure Amelie has spoken to him. But I personally haven’t.”
Murray indicated that he would like to have someone chosen following the Australian Open, but said his priority was to find the right person. Despite a subpar season and all the changes to his team, the two-time Grand Slam champion said his first lengthy training session with Mauresmo had gone well.
The world No. 6 found there was consensus about how he should be playing, saying, "We had a lot of good conversations with me and the whole team when I was in Miami. Everyone agreed on the things that I should be doing moving forward in terms of how I’m going to try to approach matches, how I’m going to play the game, how I’m going to play in practice."
Murray is playing the Abu Dhabi exhibition this week.