article: Not only had there been a tense build-up to the game, given that one of Murray's former coaches, Dani Vallverdu, now works with Berdych, but during the match the Scotsman's fiancee Kim Sears was apparently caught on camera swearing in the opposing camp's direction. It has all put the spotlight on players' entourages - those close friends and advisers who can be seen sitting in the VIP boxes at big games. The entourage is the highly motivated family, financial and sporting team driving their man or woman to the top. As with a rock star or an F1 driver, those behind the scenes form a super-professional and well-drilled team, each with a specific role to play to ensure that the player is as well-prepared and supported as possible - physically, mentally, and financially. The more cash a player rakes in through prize money and endorsements, the bigger the potential entourage they can employ, with the top stars paying hundreds of thousands of pounds a year on support staff. The Main Coach They may not work all year round, but the chief coach is the main sporting point of contact with the player, honing his or her skills to a tournament-ready fine-pitch. Often, but not always, a former pro themselves who understands the challenges of battling to Grand Slam finals. They are able to impart the wisdom of their experiences and successes, such as Amelie Mauresmo with Andy Murray, or Boris Becker with Novak Djokovic. However, Rafael Nadal's coach, his Uncle Toni, was never a top-ranked player, nor was Patrick Mouratoglou, coach of Serena Williams. The principal coach is often also a defensive shield, and can provide another "public face" to the star. "Taking an entourage around the world can be incredibly costly," says Simon Chadwick, professor of sports business at Coventry University. "However, there must be a return on investment because if there was no benefit, particularly given the way these players are so carefully financially managed, then these extensive back-up teams would not be there." At the top echelons of the game, most of these specialists will be on a basic financial retainer - plus a bonus from player prize money. Obviously, the specialist's bonus is then bigger should their man or woman pocket a Grand Slam or a top-ranked ATP or WTA title. Different players have differently configured back-room teams and not all of them will have the same-sized entourage, while some roles can be mixed and matched between staff. But a full entourage generally consists of the main coach, a day-to-day coach, a strength and conditioning or fitness coach, physio, manager/agent, and romantic partner. Other entourage members can include a hitting partner, a specialist coach brought in to work on just one stroke (such as Djokovic hiring Mark Woodforde in 2007 to improve his volleys), dieticians, as well as other family members or close friends. As well as providing psychological and moral support by being courtside at their client's games, they are there to monetise the player's brand while they are at the top for the relatively short span
summary: It is not often a player's entourage makes as many headlines as their on-court performance, but that is what happened to Andy Murray during his Australian Open semi-final win over Tomas Berdych.