Andy Murray says he feels in a good frame of mind heading into the Australian Open under the coaching of easygoing Amelie Mauresmo as the pair develop a greater understanding.
Murray, a three-time runner-up at the Australian Open, had a surprise split with coach Ivan Lendl, then controversially hired former women's number one Mauresmo, last June.
The two-time Grand Slam champion lost his Wimbledon title and briefly fell out of the top 10 for the first time in six years, but feels things are coming together under the Frenchwoman, who won the Melbourne title in 2006.
"Last year, for me, was quite difficult," Murray wrote in a column in Melbourne's The Age newspaper Monday.
"I was coming back from surgery at the start of the year and then I started working with a new coach, Amelie Mauresmo, just before Wimbledon.
"Then at the end of the season I made a few changes to my team. So, there were a lot of things to deal with but now, after the Christmas break, I feel good again.
"I can't remember how long it's been since I have felt this good: in terms of my mindset, I'd say a very long time. I feel very calm this week. I feel confident."
Murray said now he has had more consistent time to work with Mauresmo he feels things are falling into place.
"Last year I didn't really have loads of those periods during the season where I could do that," he said.
"And, also, I probably didn't spend enough time with Amelie to work on some things.
"So, for me, that's been the nicest thing: having the consistent period of time where I got to spend a lot of weeks in a row with Amelie and I could improve my game."
Murray said what he likes about working with the two-time Grand Slam champion is that she is willing to learn and not impose her views on him.
"Compared with some coaches that I've had, Amelie is very easygoing; she's willing to learn, she doesn't act like she knows everything," he said.
"She asks a lot of questions, which I believe is very important, especially in an individual sport, because you need to learn about the person you're coaching and what's going through their head, what they are thinking about certain things.
"For someone who was so successful as a player herself -- she was the best in the world at what she did -- she's willing to learn and asks a lot of questions.
"I think that's a very good trait to have."
Murray said he has developed good communication with the French star and he feels settled heading into the first major tournament of the year.
"I worked very hard, I changed a few things in my training, and my relationship with Amelie and her relationship with the team has been great."
Murray begins his Melbourne campaign against Indian qualifier Yuki Bhambri later Monday.
Source: AFP