Andy Murray to Share Manager with Long Term Rival

Andy Murray, the world number #2 ranked tennis player, may be adding a bit of fuel to a long simmering fire with his long term rival, Juan Martin del Potro, by adding the latter’s manager, Ugo Colombini to his own team of managers.

Murray and del Potro made tennis headlines when they got into an on-court spat in 2008 in a game that is usually known for the controlled temperaments of its players.  The two were involved in a bickering match during the Rome Masters, which came to a head when del Potro made a derogatory comment about Murray’s mother…

Now, with Murray signing up Ugo Colombini who also represents del Potro as his manager, some sports analysts are worried that the long term rivalry between the two may worsen.

However, del Potro has clarified matters by saying that much of the 2008 spat was sensationalized and  that the two actually get on quite well. The world’s number 7 said that he often practices together with Murray on international circuits and that they have no interpersonal problems today.

“It’s funny, because when we were juniors we would fight every day, and now we work together,” said del Potro, who is currently progressing successfully through the Monte Carlo Masters. “Things have happened in the past, but we were young. Now we are professional, we are smart, and we have a good relationship.”

Colombini has known del Potro since he first spotted him as a talented 12 year old schoolboy and went on to help him sign big sponsorship deals with Nike and Wilson.  Del Potro was so pleased with Colombini’s managerial skills that he opted not to take the route that so many big tennis pros do and sign up with top international agencies such as IGM.   Instead, he has stuck with Colombini and is now sharing his master with Andy Murray.

Both men are currently competing in the Monte Carlo Masters as they begin their road to the French Open next month.