Andy Murray received the news he had been waiting for today when American Brad Gilbert signed up to become his coach.
Gilbert will take charge of the 19-year-old Scot's progress as well as pursuing a wider remit within the Lawn Tennis Association.
The appointment of the 44-year-old Gilbert, formerly a successful mentor for both Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick, will be regarded as a major coup by the LTA's new chief executive Roger Draper.
Draper has been anxious for his organisation to play a more proactive role in supporting Murray, who has been without a coach since splitting with Mark Petchey in April.
And Murray too will be delighted following a patchy grass-court campaign, after which he conceded it was important to sort out his coaching situation.
He can now head into the American hard-court season knowing he and the LTA have enlisted one of the world's very best coaches.
Murray said: 'When I was growing up Andre was one of the players I looked up to. He won several grand slams and reached number one in the world with Brad so I am delighted to now have Brad as my coach.
'Back in April I set a very high standard for what my next coach needed to have in terms of experience and Brad meets all the requirements to guide the next stage of my tennis career.'
After parting with Agassi, Gilbert went on to coach Roddick who won the 2003 US Open before the pair parted in late 2004.
Since the split, Roddick's career nose-dived dramatically and he is currently residing outside the top 10 in the latest world rankings.
Murray is 36th and has climbed dramatically in the past 12 months, climbing above Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski to establish himself as British number one.
Gilbert said: 'I am really looking forward to working with Andy as he is one of the most talented young players on the tour.
'I am also looking forward to working at the LTA and it is great to see Roger Draper making changes for the benefit of British tennis.'
