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Andy Murray just told the world he’s a feminist

Having a female coach has changed the tennis star’s perspective on gender relations.

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Josh Katzowitz

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Ever since tennis star Andy Murray hired coach Amelie Mauresmo after parting ways with Ivan Lendl, Murray has witnessed how male coaches are treated differently than their female counterparts.

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There’s little doubt that Lendl helped Murray reach a different level of tennis—he conquered his dream of winning Wimbledon with Lendl’s help, along with an Olympic gold medal and a U.S. Open title — but it’s also interesting that Murray actually has a better win-loss record in his first year under the tutelage of Mauresmo, formerly the No. 1 women’s player in the world.

In preparation for his French Open semifinals match against world No. 1 Novak Djokovic on Friday, Murray said that Mauresmo has indirectly taught him something else, something more than how to improve his tennis. What she’s taught him is that he’s a feminist.

“Have I become a feminist? Well, if being a feminist is about fighting so that a woman is treated like a man, then yes, I suppose I have,” Murray wrote on AndyMurray.com. “My upbringing means that I’m quite attuned to the whole thing. I came to tennis thanks to my mother. I always had a very close relationship with my grandmothers. I’ve always been surrounded by women.”

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She’s helped him in other ways, as well.

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But Murray has also noticed that if he plays poorly, Mauresmo is the one who gets the blame.

“Her competence was always under fire. I felt embarrassed,” Murray wrote. “That’s why I made a point of repeatedly saying she was doing an excellent job. The real low point hit at the Masters when I lost 6-0, 6-1 against Roger (Federer, in London). Rather than blaming me, they pointed the finger at Amélie. I still remember what some players and coaches said about her — I wasn’t impressed and I shan’t forget in a hurry…”

Murray hasn’t beaten Djokovic in his last seven tries. But Murray is 15-0 during this year’s clay-court season thus far, and although he’s never made a French Open final, beating Djokovic certainly would be an impressive victory—for him and his coach.

“I find it easier to talk to [women],” Murray said. “I find it easier to open up to them. It’s a crying shame there aren’t more female coaches. I hope this changes even if this isn’t the reason I chose Amélie. Whilst a female coach might not gel so well with others, it wouldn’t hurt for everyone to be a little more open-minded.”

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Photo via Marianne Bevis/Flickr (CC by-ND 2.0)

 
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