Spanish TV commentary comes before coaching Andy Murray for Alex Corretja
Something has to give when you are serving two masters and that is the case for Alex Corretja as he attempts to help Andy Murray at the French Open while commentating for Spanish television.
This week it is the microphone that is winning out, which means Murray's main clay court adviser could well miss his second-round match today against Argentina's Jose Acasuso.
The 34-year-old Spaniard, twice a finalist in Paris, is a genial foil to his often spiky temporary client, but as he explained during yesterday's prolonged downpours, his primary loyalty has to be to his TV employers.
Coaching duty: but Alex Corretja may not have a lot of time for Andy Murray at Roland Garros
"At the Masters Series events in Monte Carlo, Rome and Hamburg they let me work around Andy's matches but this tournament is so important in Spain that I have to be available first for them," said Corretja.
"I had signed my contract with them before I was asked to work with Andy. I'm just hoping the schedule allows me to be there. I had to miss his first match because I was commentating on Carlos Moya and his match went to five sets."
That is the way it has to be when you make ad hoc coaching arrangements, the British No 1 only recruiting Corretja in late March after his first-round exit in Miami.
"He will have to go up a level,"said Corretja. "I wouldn't have picked Acasuso as a second-round opponent but that's the way it is. I hope Andy is ready for a big battle.
"But without doubt Andy can play on this stuff. If I can learn to play well indoors then imagine what Andy can do because he has more talent."
"At the Masters Series events in Monte Carlo, Rome and Hamburg they let me work around Andy's matches but this tournament is so important in Spain that I have to be available first for them," said Corretja.
"I had signed my contract with them before I was asked to work with Andy. I'm just hoping the schedule allows me to be there. I had to miss his first match because I was commentating on Carlos Moya and his match went to five sets."
That is the way it has to be when you make ad hoc coaching arrangements, the British No 1 only recruiting Corretja in late March after his first-round exit in Miami.
"He will have to go up a level,"said Corretja. "I wouldn't have picked Acasuso as a second-round opponent but that's the way it is. I hope Andy is ready for a big battle.
"But without doubt Andy can play on this stuff. If I can learn to play well indoors then imagine what Andy can do because he has more talent."
