Andy Murray announces engagement to long-term girlfriend Kim Sears – on day he axes coach and trainer

Andy Murray is to marry his long-term girlfriend, Kim Sears, but the news of their engagement broke on a day when the Scot announced the ending of two of his longest and strongest partnerships in tennis. Dani Vallverdu, one of Murray’s best friends and a key part of his coaching team, and Jez Green, one of his two fitness trainers, have both parted company with the World No 6.

Murray popped the question to Sears, his girlfriend of nine years, last Wednesday, which was presumably around the time he was also in talks with Vallverdu and Green. The departure of the two stalwarts underlines Murray’s faith in Amélie Mauresmo, who became his coach in the summer. John McEnroe said earlier this month that the Frenchwoman could hardly be called “a roaring success”, but Murray has always insisted that any coaching arrangement needs time.

Although his season picked up with his qualification for the year-end championships in London, Murray suffered his heaviest defeat for seven years when he won only one game against Roger Federer at the O2 Arena.

Vallverdu and Green were said in the summer to have been unhappy about Murray’s failure to consult them before he appointed Mauresmo. Although they stayed in the team and were believed to have patched up any differences, Mauresmo’s arrival has changed the dynamics within his entourage.

Murray has always had a ruthless streak with regard to his personnel, even when it means dispensing with individuals who are close friends. Alex Corretja, Miles Maclagan and Mark Petchey all discovered that friendship with Murray is not a continuing guarantee of employment.

Vallverdu, nevertheless, had appeared to be in a different category. He has been close friends with Murray since their teenage years together at the Sanchez Casal Academy in Barcelona. Vallverdu has played Davis Cup tennis for Venezuela and partnered Murray in the doubles at Queen’s Club in 2008, but when he joined the Scot’s entourage five years ago he was principally a hitting partner.

When Murray worked with Lendl, however, Vallverdu assumed greater responsibilities. Lendl did not attend all of Murray’s tournaments by any means and would liaise by telephone with Vallverdu, whom he rated highly.

However, with Mauresmo agreeing to travel with Murray for 25 weeks next year, which is considerably more than Lendl did, Vallverdu had been set to play a less prominent role.

Nevertheless, when Murray was asked about his coaching situation in recent weeks he had repeatedly stressed that Mauresmo was not his only coach. Vallverdu, 28, is unlikely to be out of work for long given the wealth of experience he has had working with Murray.

While the Scot is already looking for a replacement for Vallverdu, he may not replace Green, whose departure is perhaps a sign of a change of strategy as Murray enters a new phase of his career. Green has been given much of the credit for Murray’s durability and strength, but the last 18 months have been challenging for the whole team after the Scot underwent back surgery in September last year.