Tomas Berdych hires ex-Andy Murray coach Dani Vallverdu

Vallverdu has played for Venezuela in eight Davis Cup matches over six ties

World number seven Tomas Berdych has appointed Andy Murray's former coach Dani Vallverdu for the 2015 season.

Vallverdu, 28, left Murray's coaching team last month after five years, in a split described as 'mutual'.

Berdych, 29, had been looking for a new coach after most of his rivals made big-name appointments.

He approached Ivan Lendl, the man who helped Murray to two Grand Slam titles, but said the eight-time major winner was "too busy".

Posting on Facebook on Tuesday, Berdych said: "Dear fans and friends... my new coaches for next year will be Dani Vallverdu and Azuz Simcich.

"Thank you to Tomas Krupa and David Vydra for a great time and fantastic work."

Murray met Vallverdu when the pair were teenagers at the Sanchez-Casal Academy in Spain, and the Venezuelan worked closely with Lendl during the Czech great's two-year stint with Murray.