Despite being the current Wimbledon champion and having also won an Olympic Gold and a US Open in the last two years, it is fair to say that since that Wimbledon triumph, Andy Murray has reached a bit of a crossroads in his career.
Ruled out of the last quarter of 2013, so he could have vital back surgery, Murray hasn't exactly roared back in 2014. He has slipped to number eight in the rankings and has suffered a meek defeat to Sanitago Giraldo in Madrid as well as slipping up against Milos Raonic and Grigor Dimitrov, two of the game's bright young talents from winning positions in Indian Wells and Mexico respectively.
However, the signs are starting to look rosier for Murray. In the event before the French Open, the Rome Masters he played his greatest clay court tennis of all time to take the first 6-1 off Rafael Nadal and led 4-2 in the final set, before succumbing 7-5.
And in the French Open he played his first two five set matches since coming back from back surgery and won them both, which was an extremely positive sign. Firstly in the third round, he defeated German Philipp Kohlschreiber over the course of two days, eventually winning 12-10 in the final set before winning his quarter final against Gael Monfils 6-0 on Wednesday in the fifth in one of the craziest matches of tennis I have ever witnessed. Cruising at two sets up, Murray let Monfils off the hook in the third before being destroyed 6-1 in the fourth set.
With a home crowd behind him, Monfils looked to have all the momentum in fading light. Incredibly it was Murray who ran away with the fifth set 6-0 to ensure he wouldn't have to play another two day match. Although he was soundly beaten by Rafael Nadal in Friday's semi final, Murray has to be upbeat going into the grass court season where he of course defends his titles won superbly last year at Queens and Wimbledon.
And that is where the appointment of two time grand slam champion Amelie Mauresmo as announced by Murray yesterday comes in. Not many will have seen this coming, even if some including myself were very intrigued by Mauresmo watching his first round match at the French Open on May 27.
It seems as though the wheels had been in motion before that and now it is in place it will be fascinating to see how it pans out. Although Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan is coached by his mother and Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan is coached by his wife, this is the first high profile appointment of a woman in the men's game.
And I reckon it might just work wonders for Murray. After splitting with Ivan Lendl in March, Murray knew he was never going to find a like for like replacement for the man who helped him win two grand slams and Olympic Gold.
But what he did need was someone with great tennis knowledge, someone who would focus him on and off the court and someone who can help him win more Grand Slams. Mauresmo ticks all three of those boxes. As a former World Number One and two time grand slam champion, she did it all during a 16 year playing career and won close to £9m in prize money.
Interestingly for Murray, one of those two Grand Slam titles was at Wimbledon in 2006 and she won that with a superb volley game, something Murray might take into account as he defends his crown. And better still, she was part of the coaching staff that helped her fellow countrywoman Marion Bartoli win Wimbledon last year against long odds.
Mauresmo was never the flashiest of tennis players and didn't particularly like the limelight, something which I am sure would have appealed to Murray who likes his quiet life with girlfriend Kim Sears and their dog Maggie May. And that can help prepare Murray for being the focus of attention at Wimbledon, which he has been the centre of for the British press and fans ever since he burst on the scene in 2005.
Mauresmo also knows what it's like to have that pressure of being the home favourite at a Grand Slam tournament, although unlike Murray she didn't manage to win her home tournament, her best being two quarter final appearances. However, with 545 singles wins to her name, and a win in the Australian Open to go along with that title at SW19, she knows how to win big matches. And having someone like that to look up to in the players box is exactly what Murray's being needing since the split from Lendl.
Whilst Lendl didn't have to change much in Murray's game in order for him to win a Grand Slam, it was his sheer presence in that box that gave Murray the belief he could win the biggest titles of them all. Without him, Murray's focus in certain matches, particularly in those two aforementioned five set matches has waned.
And to those who scoff at the idea of a male player being coached by a woman (thankfully I've seen little backlash to Mauresmo's appointment so far), then consider the fact that Judy Murray, Andy's mother, has been a huge influence on his career from a young age and that is bound to have come into Murray's thinking. Judy is still a key presence at his big matches and has always believed in him and Murray's comments surrounding that yesterday were impressive as he said the appointment of Mauresmo didn't feel like something different and that he will be able to communicate with her.
Plenty were surprised when Murray hired Ivan Lendl and look how that turned out. Andy Murray often surprises us on court with brilliant shot making. Now he's done it off court once again. And he might have just played a blinder.
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