Henman on Andy Murray's chances

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  • Tough times: Andy Murray endured a difficult 2014 campaign and dropped out of the top-10.

    Tim Henman thinks we can expect Andy Murray to be "firing on all cylinders" when the Australian Open kicks off on Monday.

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    The British world No6 endured a difficult 2014 campaign, returning from back surgery and briefly dropping out of the top-10 following some tough results. But Henman believes that should all be behind Murray now and that the Scot is ready to challenge at the majors once again.

    Asked how soon Murray can be expected to deliver some top results, Henman said: "Now, right away. If you think back and look at his results and performances in Melbourne, we shouldn’t be surprised if he’s back and firing on all cylinders straight away. I think he suffered his most difficult season to date last year and will have put that well behind him. I think he’ll challenge in the Australian Open."

    Henman, who as an HSBC amb-assador will be at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship this weekend in the UAE capital, where he will be dishing out free coaching clinics to budding fans, is a long-time friend of Murray, who rep-laced him as British No1 in 2006.

    The 40-year-old retired Englishman is a close follower of Murray’s career and believes the two-time grand slam champion’s partnership with new coach Amelie Mauresmo will start to take shape in the coming months.

    On whether he thinks this coaching relationship will prove to be a successful one, Henman said: "I believe it already has been a relatively successful one so far when you consider it started at a very difficult time to build real momentum so close to two events he was defending.

    "Every partnership takes time to build and settle in and Andy did have his injury. Trust me from experience, coming back from surgery is difficult no matter who you are.

    "If you look towards the end of last season that was a better indication of things and I believe we’ll need to give them until post-Wimbledon to see how well they are working together.

    "It’s been solid and I imagine it will improve even further. If it lasts time will tell based on results but Andy is his own man and is not scared of making decisions.

    "He’ll know what to do but I don’t see any reason why it can’t last."

    Murray, who shook up his team during the offseason, parting ways with long-time training partner Dani Vallverdu and fitness coach Jez Green, had told reporters in Abu Dhabi earlier this month at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship that he is looking to add another coach, preferably based in Miami or London, to help him in the weeks when Mauresmo is unavailable to him.

    Henman, who lives in London, could seem like a reasonable candidate, considering his close relationship with Murray, but the ex-world No4 is not interested in the job.

    "I would be honoured to be considered and I remain close to Andy as a friend but for now coaching isn’t really something I’d take on," said Henman.

    "To be totally honest I have a great life and love what I’m doing. Whether it’s working with the likes of HSBC in golf, which I’m an addict of, or promoting tennis in India through HSBC’s Road to Wimbledon, being on the Wimbledon board and just spending time with my family.

    "To give of my best as a coach I’d have to sacrifice a lot and for now I’m not really willing to do that. However I do know to never say never."

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