BRITISH world number four Andy Murray sacked his coach Miles Maclagan yesterday a little more than a month before the final grand slam event of the year.

Australian Darren Cahill is widely believed to be Maclagan's likely successor but Murray said he would review the situation only after the August 30-September 12 US Open.

According to Murray's management team, the Scot made the decision "following a review of his coaching needs" and he was now focused on the US hardcourt season.

"I've had a great relationship with Miles over the past two-and-a-half years and I want to thank him for his positivecontribution to my career," Murray, 23, said on his official website (http://www.andymurray.com).

"We have had a lot of success and fun working together."

Murray is competing in this week's LA Open at the LA Tennis Center where he is the top seed.

Maclagan added: "It's been a privilege to work with Andy as his coach and I'm happy to have played my part in his career.

"Andy is a great player and I know he will continue to have the success his talent and hard work deserves."

Murray, who had previously been coached by Briton Mark Petchey and American Brad Gilbert, has yet to win a grand slam title despite several close calls in recent years.

In the 2008 US Open final he was taken apart by Roger Federer and he fell to the Swiss maestro again in this year's Australian Open title match.

Earlier this month, Murray was beaten 6-4 7-6 6-4 by Spanish world number one Rafael Nadal in the last four at Wimbledon.

• yesterday [´jestədi] n.&ad.昨天；前不久 (初中英语单词)
• review [ri´vju:] v.&n.复习；回顾；检查 (初中英语单词)
• management [´mænidʒmənt] n.管理；处理；经营 (初中英语单词)
• working [´wə:kiŋ] a.工人的；劳动的 (初中英语单词)
• privilege [´privilidʒ] n.特权 vt.给....特权 (初中英语单词)
• career [kə´riə] n.经历；生涯；职业 (初中英语单词)
• player [´pleiə] n.游戏的人；选手 (初中英语单词)
• talent [´tælənt] n.天才；才干；天资 (初中英语单词)
• despite [di´spait] prep.尽管 (初中英语单词)
• beaten [´bi:tn] beat 的过去分词 (初中英语单词)
• successor [sək´sesə] n.继承人，接班人 (高中英语单词)
• relationship [ri´leiʃənʃip] n.关系；联系；亲属关系 (高中英语单词)
• positive [´pɔzətiv] a.确定的 (高中英语单词)
• contribution [,kɔntri´bju:ʃən] n.贡献；捐献；投稿 (高中英语单词)
• tennis [´tenis] n.网球(运动) (高中英语单词)
• previously [´pri:viəsli] ad.预先；以前 (高中英语单词)
• briton [´britn] n.布立吞人；英国人 (英语四级单词)
• august [ɔ:´gʌst] a.尊严的；威严的 (英语六级单词)