PARIS - Amélie Mauresmo was officially appointed Andy Murrays coach on Sunday as the British star prepares to embark on the grass-court season and defend his Wimbledon title. Tae Davis Jersey . There are a handful of women coaching players on the ATP Tour, but none with anywhere close to the profile of Murray, a two-time Grand Slam winner and Olympic gold medallist. "Amélie is someone I have always looked up to and admired," Murray said in a statement. "Shes faced adversity plenty of times in her career, but was an amazing player." It is rare for an elite mens player to be mentored by a woman, especially one who is not related to him. Jimmy Connors was once coached by his mother. Billie Jean King coached Tim Mayotte for a short time. Andrei Chesnokov was coached by Tatiana Naumko. Early in the French Open, Murray was asked about the possibility of hiring a female coach and how that may be received by his peers. "For me, I dont care," said Murray, who had been without a coach since parting ways with Ivan Lendl in March. "I dont really care whether some of the other male players like it or not. Thats not something that really bothers me. I was coached by my mum for a long time. I have had her around at tournaments for a long time. There has been ex-players and stuff that have said, Oh, your mom shouldnt be around, or, She shouldnt come and support you or come to watch. You know, its silly. "Everyone is entitled to have the team around them that they want. Everyone works very differently. You know, some men might not work well with a female. Some men might work well with a female coach. Its just whatever your preference is and whatever your needs are. Thats basically it." Judy Murray, Andys mum, weighed in on Twitter saying, "Love it," in response to the news. Mauresmo, a former world No. 1, who won Wimbledon and the Australian Open, held a news conference in Paris just moments before the start of the mens French Open championship match between Rafael Nadal, coach by his Uncle Toni, and Novak Djokovic, who is coached by Boris Becker. The following is a transcript of Mauresmos exchange with reporters: Q. What was the moment when you thought that you would take over as coach of Andy Murray?  What is it about the job that is fascinating to you? AMÉLIE MAURESMO:  Andy contacted me a few weeks ago and we started to talk about this possibility to work, to be working together.  Its not really something that I was thinking doing when I stopped being a tennis player. Then we talked again a little bit more about how to do the things maybe about his game, about different things. We came up with the will from both sides to, yeah, to give it a shot. Q. Could you talk a bit about the fact obviously youre a woman, hes a man.  Do you consider that of any relevance, or do you see it possibly as a positive advantage for you? AMÉLIE MAURESMO: I would say that, yeah, I mean, its probably something that have to you ask him at some point why he made this choice.  We all know his mother was a big part of his tennis career. I think hes maybe looking for something different, about emotions and sensitive things.  Its not really interesting for me, this part of the story, to be honest.  All Im interested in is to be able to help him in his goals.  Thats about it.  The rest is the story for you to write, I guess. But, yeah, for me its a challenge.  I want to take it. Q. Can you tell us what areas of Andys game you believe you can be the most help to him in? AMÉLIE MAURESMO: I dont think Im going to go into these details right now.  I think we really get to know each other, really get to start, and actually start working together. Well maybe talk about it at some point. Q. He had obviously choices and people to consider.  When he contacted you the first time, did he say, Amélie, the reason I decided that you would be the right person is because you could bring me this or this that?  Did he give you a reason why he thought of you? AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Yeah, he did. Q. Can you tell us what it is? AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Not really (Laughter). Not really. I mean, maybe he will tell you at some point. Q. Have you watched his game much over the years?  Did you have any sort of relationship with him?  Were you surprised when he rang? AMÉLIE MAURESMO: We didnt really talk to each other more than just greeting each other and stuff.  I have watched him play, yes, many times. Again, we have talked a little bit already about his game.  We definitely going to get more into this very soon, I guess. Q. Were you surprised when he rang? AMÉLIE MAURESMO: It was a little bit of a surprise, yes.  To be honest, yes. Q. This will obviously get a lot of attention because you are a woman going to be coaching a top man.  Do you think it is an important step for mens sport for somebody to make this decision? AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Again, I mean, I guess it is a big story to write on and a step forward. But honestly, its not my big concern right now.  Im happy about this new challenge.  I want to help Andy.  Its the only thing that I have in mind right now. Q. I think the reason why Andy stopped working with Ivan Lendl is Ivan said he didnt have enough time to spend with him.  You will be available to travel with Andy throughout the year, will you? AMÉLIE MAURESMO: We have already, yes, talked about this.  Yeah, not the whole year, not as fulltime, but, yes, significant amount of weeks that we have agreed on and should be good for everyone. Q.  From your point of view, what do you expect to achieve with Andy and what would make the job a success for you? AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Well, its quite easy for me to answer this, and hes very open on this.  He wants to win more Grand Slam or Grand Slams, so I guess thats what it is. Q. You were in a comfortable position as a TV consultant. AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Yeah, I was sitting.  Now I will be... Q. You will have almost the same pressure as Andy.  The expectations will be high.  So what was the reason for you to accept such a tough challenge? AMÉLIE MAURESMO: First of all, I think he has the most pressure.  Thats for sure when youre a player, and I know what it is.  You have huge pressure on your shoulders.  This will remain this way. Yes, it will change a little bit my life and my retirement, lets say.  But Im passionate.  Im passionate about this sport.  I love challenges. I dont know, I guess I like to put myself on the line at some point and see what I can do. Q. We all know that since Billie Jean, a big part of the WTA, has been about the empowerment of women and opportunities.  We all know also its extremely difficult for WTA players.  What were your thoughts that Ernests Gulbis made the other day that he would not want his sisters to go into tennis and that its very tough and they should be focusing on families? AMÉLIE MAURESMO:  I know him a little bit.  I think you guys also know him quite a lot.  Hes provocative at some point.  Im not sure he was really thinking this way. He explained a little bit later why he said this.  Im not really Im not shocked by this because I know him.  I know how he is. Q. How long is your commitment with Andy? AMÉLIE MAURESMO: We are going to do the grass court season and we will talk after that. George Asafo-Adjei Jersey .com) - The surging Montreal Canadiens will try to match their longest winning streak of the season when they visit the Florida Panthers for Saturdays clash at BB&T Center. Cheap Giants Jerseys Authentic . The team announced the defensive coordinator will not be offered a contract extension.HOUSTON -- St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny tinkered with his lineup on Tuesday night, moving Matt Holliday from the No. 3 spot to fifth in the order for the first time this season. He isnt sure how long hell stay with this configuration, but after the night Allen Craig had, Matheny certainly has no plans to move him out of the fourth spot. Craig homered and tied a career-high with four hits and had three RBIs, and Carlos Beltran and David Freese both added a homer as the Cardinals got back on track by rolling to a 13-5 win over the Houston Astros. "Thats hard to mess with when Allen has the protection that he has," Matheny said. "Those other guys are getting on base in front of him and hes doing a great job of driving them in. Its not what I want to fool around with too much." Craig was glad to hear that, but said he isnt too concerned about those things. "I definitely like hitting fourth, but weve got so many good hitters on this team, and I dont really have the privilege to care about where Im hitting," he said. The Cardinals managed just seven runs combined in a three-game sweep by the Texas Rangers, the first time they were swept this season. On Tuesday, they piled up the same number of runs in the fourth inning alone, powered by a three-run triple by Matt Carpenter. But Matheny said he wasnt bothered by the rough weekend because of the consistency his offence has shown all season. "Youre going to have tough weekends because there are good teams out there and very good pitchers and sometimes its just hard to pull it off," he said. "Our guys went out and kind of did the same thing that they usually do." Jake Westbrook (4-2) didnt allow a hit until the sixth inning and yielded four hits and four runs in six innings in his third start since coming off the disabled list. "As well as I was pitching it was a little disappointing," Westbrook said of his difficult sixth inning. "In my eyes I felt like I should have pitched a little bit better in that inning. But the offence was great tonight and really picked me up and picked us up as a team, so that was good to see." Matt Dominguez got Houstons first hit of the game on a towering home run to left field. Brett Wallace added a two-run triple in that inning in his first game back from Triple-A. Houston starter Lucas Harrell (5-8) entered the game with a 1.73 ERA in four starts this month, but things went wrong quickly. He allowed seven hits and seven runs with four walks in 3 1-3 innings. "I left the ball up, and when you leave the ball up against a team that hits theyre going to hit," Harrell said. Craig extended his hitting streak to seven games with a single to start the second before Matt Holliday ended a 0 for 11 slump with a single. Adams grounded into a double play before Harrell walked Freese. He escaped the jam when Jon Jay grounded into a force out to end the inning. Harrell struck out the side in the third before trouble began in the fourth. Beltran opened the fourth with a double and scored on a single by Craig to make it 1-0. Holliday and Matt&nbssp;Adams walked before a one-out, bases-loaded walk by Jay made it 2-0. Chris Slayton Jersey. . Pete Kozmas RBI single pushed the lead to 3-0. Carpenters three-run triple sailed just out of reach of a diving Justin Maxwell in right-centre and left St. Louis up 6-0. Maxwell crashed violently into the grass on the play and was taken out of the game and replaced by J.D. Martinez. The team said Maxwell had a concussion. A run-scoring single by Yadier Molina wrapped up the scoring for that inning and chased Harrell. He was replaced by Dallas Keuchel, who struck out the next two batters to end the inning. Chris Carter walked to start the second inning, but Westbrook got back on track after that, retiring the next 12 batters. The Astros didnt have another baserunner until the homer by Dominguez to start the sixth. Barnes walked and Jose Altuve singled before the triple by Wallace scored them to make it 9-3. Houston got within 9-4 on a sacrifice fly by Jason Castro. Carlos Pena doubled with two outs, but Westbrook limited the damage by retiring Martinez. Beltran launched a 73 mph curveball into the Crawford Boxes in left field for a two-run home run -- his 18th of the season -- to make it 9-0 in the sixth inning. Freese pushed the lead to 11-4 when he hit his fifth homer of the season off Travis Blackley in the seventh. Craigs two-run homer off Josh Fields made it 13-4 in the eighth. Houston added a run on an RBI single by Ronny Cedeno in the ninth. NOTES: The two-game series wraps up on Wednesday when Houstons Erik Bedard opposes Lance Lynn. ... Matheny said he had a couple of conversations with Holliday before moving him down in the order. "Its just a matter of trying to get some things going in a positive direction," Matheny said. "I think we need to be proactive in trying to make it happen. Not that that changes his approach or anything else but were going to try to make some changes to see if we can jumpstart it." Beltran hit in his place. ... Matheny said he has had a couple of good talks with ace Adam Wainwright since the pitcher lost his cool after being pulled in the seventh inning of a loss to Texas on Sunday. He said he was never mad at him and that he appreciates the intensity Wainwright shows on the mound. "I understand the whole dynamic," Matheny said. "I think he was frustrated and I think he kind of let his emotions get the best of him. That once again led to some great opportunities for us to have conversations together, and for him to have conversations with some guys on our team and some of the younger players about this." ... The Cardinals will skip Joe Kellys spot in the rotation because they have two days off this week. The rest of the rotation will remain the same. ... The Astros also changed their rotation because of two off days and will skip Keuchel. ... The Astros recalled infielders Wallace and Jake Elmore from Triple-A Oklahoma City. 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