Andy Murray has revealed the depth of sexism that still exists in tennis, including one player asking him if he was joking when he broke new ground and named Amelie Mauresmo as his coach three years ago.

Murray - a long-time advocate of gender equality in sport - also said that tennis should celebrate its role in challenging sexism and the fact that it has two Tours with near equal prize money.

"When it first came out in the press that I may be working with a woman, I got a message from one of the players who is now coaching," Murray told Elle Magazine US. "He said to me, ‘I love this game that you’re playing with the press, maybe you should tell them tomorrow that you’re considering working with a dog.’ That’s the sort of stuff that was said when I was thinking about it.

"When I came on the professional tour, there were no men coached by women.

"The amount of criticism she got in comparison to any other coach I’ve ever worked with, it’s not comparable at all. Now, when I lose a match, I get the blame. When I was working with her, it was always her fault.