Thursday 14 January 2016 15:42, UK
Andy Murray becoming a dad can steer him to greater Grand Slam success like Novak Djokovic, says the Scot's former coach Brad Gilbert.
Britain's No 1 is making his final preparations for the Australian Open, which starts in Melbourne on Monday, but he could be forgiven if his thoughts were occasionally drifting home.
With his wife Kim due to give birth in mid-February, Murray, seeded second for the event, has made clear he will quit the first major tournament of the year and fly back should news come that their first child is to arrive early.
Djokovic welcomed his own first child 15 months ago and has shown no signs of distraction, winning three out of last year's four Grand Slams, and Gilbert, who coached Murray for 16 months from 2006, believes fatherhood can be inspire his game.
"All you have to do is look at Djokovic who is one week younger, and he's been playing unbelievable tennis since he's had a son," Gilbert told ESPN.co.uk.
"For an athlete, when you have good balance in your home life I feel like that should even make you better at whatever you do.
"That goes on forever even if tennis doesn't go on forever at this level. Balance, and learning how to get it, is huge but I have no qualms that Andy will be able to deal with it and be able to balance both."
If Murray, who has lost three times to Djokovic in Australian Open finals, needs advice he has it close by, given Amelie Mauresmo is back in position as his full-time coach following the birth of her son Aaron last August.
Balancing family with the hectic life on tour is not unusual for top players - Roger Federer is now father to separate sets of twins - and two-time Australian Open champion Chris Evert agrees Murray may be liberated.
"I just think when things outside of tennis in your personal life start to change a little bit, it depends on the person really because it can be a great thing," said Evert.
"It can inspire you - the marriage, playing the Olympics again this year, playing doubles with his brother - it could be a total inspiration.
"To some people it could be a distraction like, 'Emotionally I feel torn. I really want to spend more time with my wife'.
"I think it depends on how Andy views it - as an opportunity or a distraction. I tend to think he's going to view it as an opportunity."
Murray will be in the opposite half of the draw to Djokovic after the pair were seeded two and one respectively, but he could face Federer in the semis while a quarter-final with Rafael Nadal is a possible scenario in Friday's draw.
