Murray hopes Mauresmo split not seen as failure for women

FILE - A Saturday, June 27, 2015 photo from files showing Britain’s Andy Murray, left, speaking with his coach Amelie Mauresmo during practice ahead of the the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London. Andy Murray split with coach Amelie Mauresmo on Monday, May 9, 2016, ending a groundbreaking two-year relationship during which the British star improved as a clay-court player but failed to add to his collection of Grand Slam titles. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland, File) (The Associated Press)

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Andy Murray, from Britain, gestures after losing a point to Novak Djokovic, from Serbia, during their Madrid Open tennis tournament final match in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, May 8, 2016. Djokovic won 6-2, 3-6 and 6-3. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) (The Associated Press)

Andy Murray, from Britain, lifts up his runner-up trophy at the end of his Madrid Open tennis tournament final match against Novak Djokovic, from Serbia, in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, May 8, 2016. Djokovic won 6-2, 3-6 and 6-3. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) (The Associated Press)

ROME – Andy Murray hopes his split with Amelie Mauresmo isn't seen as a failure for women coaching top players.

Speaking at the Italian Open on Tuesday, Murray says "in my opinion it's nothing to do with Amelie being a woman. ... It takes a lot of time to do the job well and properly. It's not easy to do that for four, five years in a row."

Mauresmo said in a statement Monday that "dedicating enough time along with the travel has been a challenge for me."

The Frenchwoman gave birth to her first child in August and took six months off from coaching.

Murray adds that he hasn't "really thought too much about a new coach" and that he's "not worried" about his ranking after dropping to No. 3.