Breaking Down the Broader Impact of Amelie Mauresmo's Time Coaching Andy Murray

Andy Murray ended his relationship with coach Amelie Mauresmo. However, the impact of her tenure as coach will linger for years. 

The fact that Martina Navratilova's name is being batted around as Mauresmo's possible replacement, is a testament to how Murray changed the conversation about female coaches. 

In a statement issued by his management company, Murray announced yesterday that Mauresmo would no longer be his coach. Although no reason was given, Murray and Mauresmo alluded to time spent together being a major issue. 

Last year, Mauresmo missed several months of travel with Murray after giving birth to her first child. 

She told SkySports' Mark Crellin, "Dedicating enough time along with the travel has been a challenge for me. I wish him and his team well and I hope he goes on to win many more titles."

The two-year partnership had its highs and lows, but it enhanced the perception of women as coaches. 

Opportunities for female tennis coaches are few, even on the WTA Tour. So when one of the top players on the ATP World Tour hired a female coach, people took notice.

In an interview with The Red Bulletin in 2014, Murray told writer Ruth Morgan that he hired Mauresmo for her abilities, not to make a statement. However, he soon realized the impact of his decision. 

"

I knew it hadn’t happened before, but I wasn’t thinking of it being a groundbreaking move or having an influence that could cross over into other sports. Then, after seeing the response to it, and some of the things that have been said, I can see it is. I’ve actually become very passionate about getting more women in sport, giving women more opportunities. When I was younger, I wasn’t thinking about stuff like that. But now I’ve seen it with my own eyes, it’s quite amazing how few female coaches there are across any sport.

"

Navratilova told USA Today's Nick McCarvel, "Hopefully, one day people won't look at gender when they hire a coach...It made such big news when Andy picked Amelie, but to me it was like, 'Really? I just don't understand that line of thinking.'"

Before hiring Mauresmo, Murray had a successful run with tennis great Ivan Lendl as his coach. Lendl guided Murray to two Grand Slam titles, including his historic win at Wimbledon in 2013. 

After the split with Lendl in March, 2014, Murray spoke of being "gutted" by the coaching change, per the Telegraph's Simon Briggs. 

Later that summer, when Murray announced that he hired Mauresmo as coach, he received criticism and applause. It was a natural fit for a player who had been coached by his mother (Judy Murray) for many years.

It wasn't Mauresmo's first time coaching a male player. In 2009, she coached Michael Llodra for a short stint during the grass-court season. 

All tennis coaches are judged based on the player's performance. Coaches of top players endure increased scrutiny. Usually, the coaching relationship is assessed over months, even years. However, Mauresmo's standing as coach seemed to rise and fall on each of Murray's matches. 

When Murray lost to Novak Djokovic in four sets in the finals of the 2015 Australian Open, ESPN writer Mark Hodgkinson reported on whether Lendl fans were blaming Mauresmo.

Hodgkinson wrote:

"

Some take this argument too far, and imagine that Murray was completely buttoned-up when Lendl was his coach. Then they make the contrast with how he is now with new coach Amelie Mauresmo's voice in his head. 

"

Murray found himself forced to defend Mauresmo, even before his first match under her tutelage. After British tennis great Virginia Wade reportedly called the hire "a joke," Murray told reporters (via CNN.com), "The reason for working with Amelie was about finding the right personality with the right experience to help me." 

Mauresmo's calm approach seemed to balance Murray's oft fiery and demonstrative on-court demeanor. In his statement, Murray told the Associated Press (h/t Tennis.com), "I've learned a lot from Amelie over the last two years, both on and off the court..She's been a calming influence in the team and we will all miss having her around.''

Perhaps Mauresmo's most noticeable imprint on Murray's game can be seen on clay. Although Mauresmo never won the French Open, she has helped Murray improve on clay. Last year, he won his first tour-level clay court titles (Munich and Madrid). He failed to defend his title in Madrid this year; he defeated Rafael Nadal in the semifinals but lost to Djokovic in the finals.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Their partnership sparked debate about everything from the lack of opportunities for female coaches to working moms.

After Murray hired Mauresmo, Agnieszka Radwanska hired coach Navratilova. Madison Keys hired coach Lindsay Davenport. Neither of those relationships lasted long. Coaching changes on the WTA Tour are nearly as constant as changeovers.

Still, those two tennis Hall of Famers may have never been given the opportunity if Murray hadn't hired Mauresmo. 

Davenport told Hodgkinson and ESPNW that she credits Murray with opening doors for female coaches. 

"

You have to credit Murray for taking that plunge. Andy has been phenomenal with his support and he was raised by a strong mother...I hope that in a few years we will look back and think, "Why was this such a big deal?" It seems that we go like that with social issues around the world and giving everyone equal rights, and maybe the same thing will happen with women coaching men.

"

Navratilova believes gender is irrelevant when it comes to coaching. She told Paul Newman of the Independent: 

"

Andy didn’t care about the gender. Maybe being coached by his mum had something to do with that. He was used to taking advice from a female. Amélie opened the door and maybe other players won’t care one way or the other about the gender.

"

For all the blame Mauresmo gets for Murray's Slam-less two years, she doesn't get enough credit for coaching him back into the top five after his return from minor back surgery.

After the 2014 U.S. Open, Murray was on the outside of the top eight and risked missing the ATP World Tour Final. Making the final seemed like a long shot. Mauresmo reportedly convinced him to go for it, per Newman.

Murray played 23 matches in 37 days and qualified for the finals. It also helped elevate his ranking and led to a finals appearance at the 2015 Australian Open. 

Last year, Murray reclaimed his career-high ranking of No. 2. 

As the Guardian's Kevin Mitchell wrote:

"

For Murray and Mauresmo this was a contract like any other, strictly business, but it became stronger than that. It was a friendship as much as a partnership and in the face of some low-grade chauvinism, they grew closer.

"

Murray told the Associated Press (via Tennis.com), ''I'll take some time to consider the next steps and how we progress from here...but I'd like to thank her for everything she has done, she's been an invaluable member of the team.''

Murray has hinted to selecting another former Grand Slam champion as his new coach. Might he turn to another female coach? Considering how progressive Murray has been in his support of women in sports, that move would not surprise.