Mark Nixon · @markalannixon
13th Jan 2019 from TwitLonger
Amélie Mauresmo on Andy Murray: "What you see on court is only 10% of how he really is." Interviewed by @sophiedorgan https://abonnes.lequipe.fr/Tennis/Article/Amelie-mauresmo-andy-murray-est-un-gars-sous-cote-humainement/976913
What were your feelings during Andy Murray's announcement?
-- I was obviously very touched. It's tough seeing him like that because you want to choose your career end. It's difficult for an athlete to take on other things when you still have this desire to play. He's still making the effort. One sees that he still hasn't integrated and assimilated the decision. At the same time, the pain is a reality. At some point, you can't manage it any more. One thing that's certain is that he will have done everything, tried everything possible (medical treatments, nutrition etc) He looked at everything with his team. Everyone one was saying that, with that hip, he had little chance to come back. He took the risk of an operation because he'd run out of options.
Can he make it to Wimbledon?
-- He's the only one who knows. I really hope he makes it to Wimbledon. He'd still have the pain to manage, but also the acceptance he may have reached during the time. From outside, he doesn't seem ready to accept it. For him, Wimbledon would be a good story. It would be deserved.
Did the quest for nr. 1 kill him?
-- The quest for a Slam, especially. The quest for perfection. The striving is wearing. What athletes demand of their bodies in any sport isn't normal. During his quest for number one (in 2016), he played a few more tournaments to get there, but the problem with his hip was already there. It was already there with me, and we had to manage it. His high pain threshold meant that he pushed himself even more.
He's someone who doesn't listen to his body?
-- Contrary to one might think by his attitude, he he always goes one step further. He's so tough with pain ... I think he's endured more than is reasonable.
Talk about Andy Murray the man.
-- It's what we saw there (during the press conference). Andy isn't what we see on court. That's why, despite everything (annoyance with his staff, grumblings) people stay with him. What you see on the court is only 10% of how he really is. Andy is sensitivity, great perspective and analysis, a very sure eye on a lot of subjects: himself, the tennis world, the the game, the world in short. He's not ashamed of his sensitivity, just the opposite , it makes him what he is and it's brilliant. He's a hyper intelligent man, very aware of others and he has a lot of humour. I don't think he's got the appreciation he should have because he was a different person on the court. To me, he he's a person of great depth, but not on the court. I don't think he's properly appreciated. He's very lovable.
By taking you on as a coach, he also tried to get attitudes to evolve.
-- It wasn't a gimmick. They're profound convictions coming from his education, his openness and spirit. He has great judgement, perspective and wisdom. When he says something, it's because he believes in it.
He's a champion outside his sport?
-- Yes.On the big societal quest of equality between men and women, he contributed enormously to its advance.
What will he do after?
-- He's interested in a lot of things. He already has his management business helping businesses improve. I don't know what he'll do. He has his family. He'll be extremely active. He could be a formidable coach but I don't know if he wants to travel.