Mauresmo combines Murray & Fed Cup roles

Amelie Mauresmo will continue to combine her roles as coach to Andy Murray and captain of France's Fed Cup team after the French Tennis Federation extended her contract by two years.

Mauresmo, a former world number one, began working with Murray in June and was retained when the Briton made changes to his set-up last month.

She has been French Fed Cup captain since replacing Nicolas Escude in 2012.

France's next tie is a World Group contest against Italy in February.

Should they win, 35-year-old Mauresmo will lead France in the semi-finals in April, with the Fed Cup final in November.

Murray, 27, announced last week that he had parted company with Dani Vallverdu, a member of the Scot's coaching team for the past five years.

The French Tennis Federation has also extended Davis Cup captain Arnaud Clement's contract by two years, despite criticism of his leadership after the defeat by Switzerland in last month's final.

Andy Murray will be back, says Cilic

US Open champion Marin Cilic believes that Andy Murray will be back to peak form soon after a difficult year in which the Scot also named a woman head coach. World number-nine Cilic of Croatia faces his fellow Grand Slam winner in the Philippine capital in the marque men's singles match-up when the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) debuts on Friday.

"I believe Andy's going to show next year the good form that he's been showing for the last few years," the Croat said of Murray, currently ranked sixth.

The former world number two and Wimbledon winner has been criticised by friend and British great Tim Henman for hiring former female world number-one Amelie Mauresmo in a ground-breaking partnership in place of former coach Ivan Lendl.

"Concerning his coaching team, I believe he knows the best. And I mean with having a woman coach, I don't see any problem there," said Cilic, the reigning US Open champion.

"Tennis is tennis and he's played the same," the Croat said of Murray, currently ranked sixth in the world. Murray faced most difficulty from his back injury at the end of the last year and later on ended with the surgery said by Croat.

The Croat said the IPTL, which will also have stops in Singapore, New Delhi and Dubai next month, "is going to make our sport very interesting".

"Everything is going to be quicker and I believe the preparations are going to be much sharper off the court, in the locker room and in the gym before the matches," said Cilic, part of the UAE Royals team of world number-one Novak Djokovic.

On Saturday, Sharapova plays world number-five Ana Ivanovic of the Federer-led Micromax Indian Aces, while Murray takes on Gael Monfils.

On Sunday, Murray faces Tomas Berdych of the Singapore Slammers, who also include world number one Serena Williams.

Williams plays Sharapova's and Murray's teammate Kirsten Flipkens on Sunday.

BBC award 2014: World champ Hamilton nominated

The trophy for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award is a silver four-turret lens camera

Formula one current champion Lewis Hamilton nominated for BBC award 2014 and compete with European Ryder Cup star Rory Mcllroy and Real Madrid player Gareth Bale for the BBC sports personality award of the year 2014 at the awards ceremony in Glasgow on December 14.

Andy Murray, who won Wimbledon, last year was voted the 2013 Sports Personality of the year.

The BBC Sports Personality of the Year is an awards ceremony that takes place annually in December. Devised by Paul Fox in 1954, it originally consisted of just one, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award. The trophy for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award is a silver four-turret lens camera.

The trophy for the main award is a silver-plated four-turret lens camera. All of the BBC local regions hold their own independent award ceremonies, which take place before the main ceremony and are used to compile a shortlist for the BBC Sports Unsung Hero Award.

Hamilton won his second F1 world title in Abu Dhabi and is in the race of getting the prize. Bale, who helped Madrid win the Champions League last season in his first year and US PGA Championship winner McIlroy, a key member of the European team that retained the Ryder Cup against the United States, is also in the race of BBC award.

If McIlroy win BBC award then he will be the first golfer to win the award since Nick Faldo in 1989.

Athlete Jo Pavey, dressage star Charlotte Dujardin, boxer Carl Froch, visually impaired skier Kelly Gallagher, swimmer Adam Peaty, gymnast Max Whitlock and skeleton bob racer Lizzy Yarnold all are in the nominated top 10 list of BBC award.

Bookmakers have Northern Ireland's McIlroy as the early front runner and William Hill's spokesman Rupert Adams said: "Even at this early stage it looks like a two horse race and Rory is already a couple of lengths ahead."