Still tinkering with his coaching team a year after losing Ivan Lendl, Andy Murray has probably made a wise choice in bringing Jonas Bjorkman on board.
The Swede, a former world No 4, will be joining the crew some time next month, once he is finished with his commitment on a Swedish dance reality TV show.
The appointment will be on a trial basis at first, but few doubt it will turn into a long and fruitful association. According to reports, Bjorkman was Murray’s first choice before he decided to take the radical route and appoint Amelie Mauresmo as Lendl’s successor.
The Frenchwoman’s arrival, apparently, did not go down well with Murray’s long-time friend and assistant coach Dani Vallverdu, and the two parted ways last November.
With Mauremso only committed to working 25 weeks a year with the Scot, Murray had been looking for an additional coach. Bjorkman seems like a great choice.
For one, he and Murray were good friends when the Swede, 42, was still a player on the tour. Bjorkman has also known Mauresmo for most of his career, thanks to a mutual friend, so the two should not have too many problems working together.
A brilliant returner and outstanding volleyer, Bjorkman has already given Murray some pointers about his game and the areas where he could help improve.
“We’ve spoken and he wants to be a little bit more aggressive on his returns, and he wants to start coming to the net a little bit more,” Bjorkman said.
The Swede is also known as a man with a great sense of humour; his lighter side could also be an asset in a team, which can look pretty dour most times.
The Swede’s appointment should be good news for Murray fans.
arizvi@thenational.ae
Follow our sports coverage on Twitter @NatSportUAE
