Andy Murray declares himself a feminist after 'staggering' criticism of his female coach

Andy Murray has declared himself a feminist, explaining that the criticism his female coach Amelie Mauresmo has faced has been "staggering".

The British number one, who was one of the first major male tennis players to appoint a female coach, said he knew there would be some "tongue wagging" when he teamed up with Mauresmo last summer but was shocked at the intensity.

Writing in a column for L'Equipe ahead of his French Open semi-final against Novak Djokovic, Murray decried the hypocritical outlook of the tennis world.

I didn’t realise that Amélie would find herself up against such criticism and prejudice. The staggering thing was that she was slated every time I lost, which is something my former coaches never ever experienced.

While praising Mauresmo's work so far, Murray said it was a "crying shame" there aren't more female coaches in the sport and called for everyone to be a "little more open-minded".

Have I become a feminist? Well, if being a feminist is about fighting so that a woman is treated like a man then yes, I suppose I have.

This is not the first time Murray has spoken about his feminism. In an interview with Red Bulletin magazine last month the Scot said that working with Mauresmo - a former world number one - had "really opened my eyes".

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