From the Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/sport/2006/05/10/sthodg10.xml

Murray to lose no 1 ranking but get a coach:

On a cold night under the lights of the Foro Italico's centre court, Andy Murray was unable to fend off the challenge from Filippo Volandri, the Italian No 1, in the opening round of the Rome Masters. Afterwards, in the warmth of the interview room, there was some better news with the British teenager disclosing that he had identified a possible new coach.

As well as denying Murray a second-round meeting with Spain's Rafael Nadal, last night's 6-4, 6-4 defeat also meant that he is set to lose his status as the British No 1 when the next ranking list appears on Monday. Murray will almost certainly be replaced by Greg Rusedski, who has not topped the domestic power list since the autumn of 1999.

Murray became the youngest British No 1 in history in February, after winning his first title on the main tour in San Jose and then reaching the quarter-finals of Memphis. But the Scot has had some difficulties as he attempts to fully establish himself on the full circuit, and in his 11 weeks as Britain's top player he has registered one win in Indian Wells and one in Barcelona.

Murray has been without a coach since sacking Mark Petchey last month, but he said that he had a possible replacement in mind, and that his agent, Patricio Apey, had already been in contact with the unnamed man. Murray suggested there was a chance that an announcement could be made before the French Open at the end of the month, but also that there might not be any news until after Wimbledon.

"There's one coach that I've not spoken to, but my agent has spoken to a couple of times and he's interested," Murray said. "I would like to speak to him possibly before the French Open and see how many weeks he wants to travel, obviously how much he is going to get paid, how he sees my game going, and see if we agree.

"First I'll speak to this coach, see what he thinks about my game, and then go to the next stage and discuss terms."

The reason given for Murray's decision to ditch Petchey was "a difference of opinion", which was believed to have meant a disagreement over what style of play the Scot should adopt. Murray, known as a counter-puncher, had set out to be more aggressive than usual on his first appearance in Rome, but he admitted that it had not entirely worked.

Volandri knows his way around a clay court, and he also had the support of the crowd, who became increasingly vocal as the second set continued. Murray was disappointed with the result, but he will doubtless regain the British No 1 ranking quickly, perhaps by picking up enough points at the Masters Series event in Hamburg next week.