Mauresmo - "It suited me that they asked me not to talk, especially to the British journalists." Interview in l'Équipe with Amélie Mauresmo by Franck Ramella: (Coaching 100% now) - When Andy approached me I needed to organise myself and we both wanted a trial period. We talked again after Wimbledon, and that led to us having a medium and long term view. The mutual desire is there.

Three months ago, I never imagined doing this. But after the discussions we had about his game, the reasons for his choice led me to think that it could lead to some positive things. The relationship developed in a way that was suitable to me. I work on instinct, and that involves humour, listening, that's me. Andy is very misunderstood. He's thorough, obviously, but behind that there's a lot of vivacity, a lot of humour, he's warm. That's how I was as a player. We get along pretty well.

(Don't tell us you've converted him to wine?)

Non, he doesn't drink. And it isn't a priority!

(Where are you professionally now?)

It was common sense at the beginning that my role would be as an observer with bits of tennis advice. Now it's more balanced. I still observe, but I intervene more. The fifteen days of work in Miami helped.

(Is Murray the crazy hard worker they often talk about?)

That's all about making demands, paying attention to detail. About intensity, constantly, in all areas. Personally, I like that. Yes, we're together on that, on the obsessive side of this sport, of this profession.

(Afraid of arriving at the worst moment at Wimbledon, with the defending British champ as a woman coach?)

It was all there! Pffft, he dealt with it well. Even if he lost in the quarters. for other reasons. He has a lot of perspective about things.

(You?)

It's funny, but I also experienced it in a very detached way in the end. I heard, I felt the expectations, the buzz. But it really didn't matter.We'd gone through things enough before to feel as if we were in a bubble. Everybody was telling me "Wow! You have so much pressure!" But zero. The tabloids were quiet apart from some photos. But I couldn't care less, I don't read them. What suited me was that they asked me not to talk, especially to the English journalists.

(His QF against Dimitrov at Wimbledon wasn't successful)

Yeah, we got together right away the next day to analyse it. I needed him to explain a lot of things. The dialogue went well.

(Has he said how you're different from Lendl?)

I think we're very different. He made a huge change there, Andy. He'd explain it a lot better than I.

(Do you like being a trailblazer?)

I thought about it at the start. OK, it was part of the package. But I'm not doing it for that, but with the goal of getting results.

(How do you react when they say a woman might have problems analysing the men's game?)

A lot of things depend on Andy. Like when I played and I concentrated heavily on what I had to do. He has a great knowledge of his strengths and possible weaknesses, and it's easy for me with regard to his game to see what could work better. When it comes to his opponents, yes, I don't know them that well. But, one, I'll be watching the matches. Two, videos, they exist, and I spend a lot of time with them. When I start a job, I do it as well as I can. When I have a challenge, I do everything I can to meet it.

(And how do you feel in this universe?)

..of guys?

In the beginning at Queen's it was a curiosity. But I'm still part of the landscape. I talk a lot with certain coaches, especially with Loïc Courteau (her old coach), to whom I turned right away. Or Magnus Tideman (Chardy's coach), who has a lot of experience. I have good relations with all the French, and there are a lot of them - that makes integration easier.

(Not afraid of being called traitor by the French players? You know their little secrets, you could talk about them to Murray.)

For that, Andy doesn't need me, if you look at the stats. Sure, I have some knowledge of the French players. That's life. A guy had confidence in me, he wanted to travel down the road a piece with me to progress. If I say yes, I see the job through to the end. And that includes being inconvenient for the French players. But it won't make a big difference.

(Staying as Fed Cup captain)

I'd like to continue, at least. I think I can do things a bit differently. Before, I came to Slams to see everybody. I won't be there so much for that kind of thing, but I'll be there more often, like at mixed tournaments. The first meeting of the new year might be a problem, the week after Melbourne. But the important thing is clarity. It would be difficult asking me to choose if it's positive for everyone.

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