A funny thing happened on the way to Andy Murray's Australian Open title hopes.
Tennis.com reported that Murray, the No. 6 seed, faced more than the usual questions about his upcoming semifinals match against Tomas Berdych.
Hiring of Amelie Mauresmo forces shakeup in Andy Murray's camp
In Berdych's corner is Dani Vallverdu, a longtime assistant coach and childhood friend of Murray's.
Murray and Vallverdu split at the end of last year amid speculation that the two were not on the same page about Murray putting his career in the hands of coach Amelie Mauresmo.
"The most important point in any team is that everyone has the same vision, everyone wants to move forward together," Murray told the Independent earlier this month. "I feel that's what I have now. Maybe the last four or five months of last year it wasn't like that. It's not as much fun travelling when that's the case. If everyone isn't right into it, that isn't how you want to work."
But now, Murray will be facing Berdych, who will have the benefit of Vallverdu's vast knowledge of Murray's game.
Certainly, that figures to put Murray at a disadvantage; the Scot, however, fails to see it that way.
"But, you know, I also know what Dani thinks of Berdych's game because he's told me, so it works both ways," Murray asserted, when asked about Berdych's alliance with Vallverdu.
Berdych even said that Vallverdu's knowledge of Murray's game could work in his favor, that Vallverdu's insight "definitely might be an advantage for us."
Murray acknowledged that Vallverdu would have Berdych prepared, wouldn't allow his press conference to turn into a critique of Vallverdu's work.
"I don't really want to talk about what Dani's strengths and weaknesses are. I'm happy to talk about Berdych and what his strengths and weaknesses are, but I don't want to discuss what Dani does well and doesn't do well," he said.
"My goal isn't to beat Dani; my goal is to beat Berdych."
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