Murray ready to end it all with Gilbert - says report

Nov 14, 2007, 10:51 GMT

Andy Murray of Great Britain returns a ball to Richard Gasquet of France during their quarter finals match at the BNP Paribas Masters Tennis tournament, in Paris, France, 02 November 2007. EPA/HORACIO VILLALOBOS

London - Andy Murray appears ready to part with high-profile - and highly-paid - coach Brad Gilbert as a tempestuous relationships heads for the end, British daily The Times reported on Wednesday.

The newspaper said the pair have been at loggerheads for the past few months, with Murray making a close but failed run for a place in this week's season-ending Master's Cup.

The 20-year-old Scot, known for his hot temper and frequent on- court outbursts - many directed at Californian Gilbert sitting in the stands - missed three months of 2007 with a wrist injury.

The newspaper said the chalk-and-cheese pair - Murray is dour at best while former player Gilbert is a non-stop talker - have been on edge since the late summer when Murray returned to the ATP.

Gilbert, who guided Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick to world number one before being appointed to shepherd Murray in mid-2006, has benefitted from one of the most lucrative contracts in coaching.

His salary, said to be in excess to 1.5 million dollars (1.03 million euros) per year, was paid by the Lawn Tennis Association, with Murray his prime - but not lone - responsibility.

The 46-year-old Gilbert coached other British players for specified weeks when he was not travelling with Murray, who ended the season on 11th.

If Gilbert goes as expected, he will be the second coach given the sack by the Scot, who parted with his original mentor, Briton Mark Petchey, several seasons ago.