Andy Murray 'more confident' following changes to backroom staff

[RoadWarrior]

Andy Murray says he is already benefiting from November's decision to overhaul his backroom staff.

The Scot split with long-time associates Dani Vallverdu and Jez Green towards the end of last year and opted to retain Amelie Mauresmo as coach.

And Murray has begun his Australian Open preparations with victory in an Abu Dhabi exhibition tournament and an unbeaten run of singles matches at the Hopman Cup.

"The most important point in any team is that everyone has the same vision, everyone wants to move forward together," he told The Independent newspaper. "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. From the way that I've played in the matches so far, I think for me there's already a difference compared with even the end of last year.

"I've had time to work on stuff. I feel good. I feel more confident. I feel like I've worked and practised on the right things I feel like my team is focused on what needs to be done. Everyone is pulling together in the same direction. And that makes a huge difference."

Murray and partner Heather Watson finished their Hopman Cup campaign with a win against Australia in Perth, Murray following up victories over Benoit Paire and Jerzy Janowicz with a straight-sets success against Marinko Matosevic.

"I think I have played well," he said afterwards. "The scorelines have been quite convincing against good players and tricky players who are big hitters of the ball."