Gilbert has high hopes for new pupil Murray

WASHINGTON, Aug 2 (Reuters) Brad Gilbert's first lesson for his new pupil Andy Murray was to have him practice with Andre Agassi.

''I thought it was good for Andy to be out there with Andre to see at 36 years old how hard Andre is still working,'' Gilbert told Reuters. ''I just want him to learn a little bit from Andre.

''And Andre's gracious enough to let us come out there on the court with him.'' Under Gilbert's tutelage from 1994 through to 2002, Agassi won six Grand Slam titles. The veteran coach is now hoping the 19-year-old Murray will display the same firepower as his former student, who will retire after the upcoming US Open.

''He's got a very good game,'' Gilbert said of Murray, ranked 35th in the world and Britain's top-ranked player. ''He does a lot of things well. I like that fact that at 19 he has a lot more years in his game to get better.'' The 44-year-old Gilbert became Murray's mentor last week when the Lawn Tennis Association gave him the task of revitalizing British tennis.

In addition to his highly successful stint with Agassi, Gilbert also guided Andy Roddick to a number one ranking and the 2003 US Open championship.

''Everyone says he's one of the top two or three coaches in the world,'' Murray said of Gilbert. ''He did a great job with Agassi and obviously Roddick. And he was a very good player himself.

''He's got a lot of knowledge about the game and a lot of experience. It's a perfect fit.'' Murray's first tournament with Gilbert will be this week's Legg Mason Classic in Washington on the hard courts where the Briton is seeded eighth.

NEEDS STRENGTH Gilbert's first task is to make the 185 cm, 68 kg Murray stronger.

''He needs to get physically stronger,'' said Gilbert, a Californian. ''There's no question. I told him his goal is in 18 months to play sleeveless and have arms like (French Open champion Rafael) Nadal.'' ''He also needs to improve his serve a lot. Everything has to get better. Those guys at the top do everything well, so he has to get better at everything that he does.'' Murray, born in Scotland, also must contend with the mental burden of replacing veteran Tim Henman as Britain's best shot at winning the coveted Wimbledon championship.

''I told him to just embrace it,'' said Gilbert. ''When you're out on the tennis court, the media doesn't win or lose the match.

The pressure should come from you. Not from the papers.

''Obviously, he's from a country that it doesn't matter if it's tennis or soccer, they put a lot of pressure on you. But the pressure should come from you because you want to win.'' Murray, who has claimed one career title, said he wants Gilbert to help in win a major championship.

''It's my goal to win a Grand Slam,'' he said. ''I wanted to work with a coach who had worked with a player who had won a Grand Slam or had been number one in the world.

''I now have someone with the right knowledge.'' REUTERS PM PM0923