Tennis may feature names who transcend the sport and contest matches in some of the grandest stadiums around the globe, but in the end, it all comes down to the little things.  It is a game of inches where only the slightest adjustments can have a big impact at the most elite level.  Players know this, which is why they are always looking to find a way to gain an edge on the competition.  Andy Murray may have found a new way to gain such an edge with the announcement that he could be adding former professional Jonas Bjorkman to his team.

Bjorkman was a very respectable singles player, but fans will most likely remember him for his exceptional career in doubles.  The Swede once sat atop the pinnacle of the rankings in doubles, thanks in no small part to the many Grand Slam and Masters titles he acquired before retiring from the sport.  With that experience and knowledge, and his fun-loving personality, he could prove to be just what the Scot needs to get back into the winner's circle at the majors.

Arguably the most important thing Bjorkman brings to the table in this potential relationship is the possibility of making Murray a better player in the forecourt.  The Scot already possesses good feel and a wide variety of groundstrokes, yet his approach shots are often lackluster and play at the net mediocre at best.  For a competitor of Murray's caliber with his gifts and lanky build, it is a wasted opportunity not to be a more effective player in the forecourt.  As someone who excelled in that area, Bjorkman could no doubt teach Murray how to recognize the multitude of ways to charge the net and reading the best plays to finish the point once there.

In addition to making Murray more comfortable in the forecourt, by teaching Murray how to more consistently move forward, Bjorkman can also turn the Scot into an overall more aggressive competitor.  Murray has done well to get in top shape, so few would question his ability to physically hang with any player over the course of a long match.  Just because one can hang around to the bitter end does not mean one should, however.  The Scot can often fall into a pattern of becoming too passive during matches.  This can get him into trouble, particularly against players more willing to take the initiative.  But if Murray were looking to regularly move forward, he would naturally become more aggressive.  This would allow him to exert greater control in matches, as well as shorten the points – something that he is apt to appreciate even more in the latter stages of his career.

While Bjorkman can definitely add to Murray's repertoire of skills, Bjorkman could also assist Murray simply by being a member of his camp.  Despite being a seasoned veteran, Murray is someone who still functions better when there is a coach in his box.  His current main coach, Amelie Mauresmo, is only contracted to work with him 25 weeks out of the year, and by his own admission, Murray struggles when she is unavailable.  Most recently, he chalked up his poor performances in Rotterdam and Dubai in part due to Mauresmo not being readily accessible to him because of her Fed Cup duties.  Having a second coach – one, who like Mauresmo, has experience at the highest level of the game – to fill in when Mauresmo cannot be there could be a calming influence on Murray and keep him on track over the course of a long season.

Of course, whether or not Bjorkman will even be allowed the opportunity to help Murray grow is undecided.  The two will test the waters of a potential partnership sometime next month when the Swede joins Murray for a week.  Ultimately, the two have to gel before this becomes a permanent arrangement, and Murray could go a long way towards helping their possible relationship start off on the right foot by putting together a good run in Indian Wells.  Hopefully this pairing works.  Bjorkman has a lot to offer, and a more aggressive Andy Murray would add a new element of excitement to the men's game.