By Sean Rudolph
© Natasha Peterson/Corleve

(November 9, 2010) Boris Becker has some advice for Andy Murray in his quest to win his first Grand Slam title — grow up. The unseeded Becker was 17 when he beat Kevin Curren in the 1985 Wimbledon final to become the youngest man to win  major. Becker believes the two-time Grand slam runner-up has the skills to win a Grand Slam title, but says the 23-year-old Murray must mature to master a major.

"At 23 Murray is not old. Some players mature younger. I matured younger. Ivan Lendl did not win his first Grand Slam until he was 25," Becker told The Daily Record. "It depends on your personality. In many ways, I regard Murray as younger than 23 — like how close he is still attached to his mother, Judy. He has been pretty much with the same girlfriend for the past three or four years. That is something you don't usually do when you are 23. That is something you do when you are 19 or 20."

Since parting company with coach Miles Maclagan after Wimbledon, Murray has played without a coach. He beat David Nalbandian, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in succession to capture the Rogers Cup in Toronto before bombing out of the US Open in a third-round loss to Stanislas Wawrinka. Murray bounced back to beat Federer in the Shanghai final and is seeded third in Paris this week.

Jimmy Connors and Martina Hingis are two Grand Slam champions whose mothers played an important role in their development. Connors' mother Gloria, and his grandmother, taught him to play and his mother was a frequent presence at his matches. Hingis' mother, Melanie Molitor, was her first coach and still coaches today.

But Becker suggests Murray may lean on mother Judy Murray a bit too much.

"Maybe he is maturing a bit slower and that shows on the tennis court," Becker told The Record. The family set-up he has is not a bad thing but it is something a person does who is not 100 percent on his own feet and on the court, you are by yourself. On important points you cannot ask anyone what to do. You have to be convinced yourself what is right. That is called maturity. I find he still hasn't matured enough yet to be able to make the right decisions in a Grand Slam."

The 2008 US Open finalist said he's enjoying the coachless flight for now. His mother  was in his box in Toronto and has served as a surrogate coach and sounding board for her son.

"In some ways it's nice not to have a coach for a while. I have more responsibility to figure out a few things by myself on court," Murray said. "But there is a lot more freedom in some ways. After having a coach for two or three years, it's nice to be on your own."

Murray and brother Jamie joined forces to win the Valencia Open 500 doubles title on Sunday.