Murray to partner Mirnyi in 2008



Britain's number one doubles player Jamie Murray will team up with Max Mirnyi of Belarus in 2008.

The Scot, 21, is ranked 32 in doubles and won four titles with American Eric Butorac in 2007 before their partnership ended in September.

Mirnyi, 30, is ranked 16 in the world and has won 33 doubles titles including two US Opens and two French Opens.

"He serves big, volleys well and has a great presence. I think he's a great player," Murray told The Herald.

"I didn't think it would happen, if I'm honest.

"It took me a while to find someone. I held off and held off, but I think I have found the right one now."


:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

I can only hope this does Jamie a lot of good.. looking at all those he partnered with in the second half of the season...James blake , Jordan Kerr, Mark knowles and his own brother Andy, I will discount James blake. In my opinion I always thought it was more because they got along off court(friendship than strategic).

I was hoping that bhupathi was going to make him become a better doubles player..bhupathi seems more like an accommodating player and he has played with some experienced partners, including women in the mixed doubles.

Knowles had it worked out would for me have been ideal..there are not many out there with a better understanding of the doubles game..though I think there may have a little personality compatibility problem..but none that cannot be dealt with.

Obviously , with his win at Wimbledon with Jelena Jankovic. I would like to believe he will be at least a good mixed doubles partner...but that performance was actually quite passionate for several reasons..so much so that I wonder if it can be replicated or just a one of. Otherwise ..I would said .. Jamie could find himself a partner with similar personality and work rate..

Mirnyi is not the 'friendliest looking' and chirpy player out there....I think Andy would have had a difficult time with such a partnership..but Jamie seems to favour the quality of the play..as opposed to the chemistry. I guess time will tell if this 'Booty and the Beast ' partnership as some are describing it ..will produce results( if nothing at all..a more smiley :) Mirnyi). Cos with Mirnyi and Bjorkman...you could tell who was providing the experience and fabric holding the parnership together. Lets hope Mirnyi, will be able to make his partnership with Jamie into something even better than it was with Jona Bjorkman...although that may take some time..

Best of luck to the original stretch Eric butorac..though I think Jelena made the best 'Stretch' combination..

I LOVE "the Beast" as he is known. :D Good Jamie has a partner of experince and stature in the game. Not sure he is the best choice for him but we shall see. I worrythat Bjorkman and Mirnyi did nto have such a great year, adn have no idea why - hope it wasn't co sof Max!

I think this could be a really interesting pairing. Mirnyi seems like a really friendly guy ( despite being called 'the beast") and has had lots of success in doubles and he's been a decent singles player over the years! I've watched him play a few times and been very impressed.

Having said this, I actually thought Jamie might team up with Paul Hanley as he's had a good year with Kevin Ullyett and is based in Surrey.

Re the string of partners in the latter part of the season. I think that all those partnerships were simply stop gaps before he found a (hopefully) permanent partner for the 2008 season. It would have been nice if teaming up with Knowles would have worked, but they only played one match together anyway!

Mirnyi is a really good experienced doubles player who has won GrandSlams and is therefore really good for Jamie to learn from.

I'm sure they can go deep into tournament's especially with that 'beast' of a serve.

Apparently, the partnership will begin after the Aussie Open as Murray had already committed to playing there with Kevin Ullyett whose new partner, Jonas Bjorkman, is taking that time off for the birth of his child.