By Ros Satar
- Andy Murray is set to work once more with Ivan Lendl
- Work will begin when Murray begins his quest for a fifth Queen’s title
- Will work alongside Jamie Delgado
LONDON, UK – Andy Murray will team up with Ivan Lendl again, as the former World No.1 and eight-time Grand Slam champion, commencing with the grass court season.
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Murray, who announced his split with Amelie Mauresmo after the Madrid Masters last month, enjoyed his greatest successes to date under the Czech’s tutelage, winning the US Open, Olympic Gold and then Wimbledon between 2012 and 2014.
He was brought into Murray’s team to help the Brit after finishing as a runner-up in four Slams, including his first Wimbledon final, winning the London 2012 Olympic Gold defeating Roger Federer in straight sets, just a couple of weeks of having lost to him.
Lendl would then help guide Murray to become the first British man in 77 years to lift the Wimbledon trophy. Ironically, this is the one Slam Lendl did not win, in
As reported by the BBC, Murray said in a statement, on Sunday: “Ivan’s single-minded and knows what it takes to win the big events. I had two very successful years working with him. I’m looking forward to Ivan joining the team again and helping me try and reach my goals.”
Lendl was very forthright about not wanting to be constantly on the road, and after his split with Murray he was working alongside the US Tennis Association and will now join the team working alongside Jamie Delgado, who assumed full-time coaching responsibilities over the clay court season, where Murray reached his first Roland Garros final.
Lendl added in the statement: “I enjoyed working with Andy in the past. Andy and I have always stayed in contact so it should be fun to be part of his team again.”
The Czech had made it clear that the constant travelling had been a factor in his stepping away from the coaching spotlight, turning down the chance to work with compatriot Tomas Berdych, and the BBC’s Russell Fuller understands that Lendl will be on board for 20 weeks a year including the Slams and perhaps some of the Masters 1000 events.
Much has been made of Murray’s mutterings – a practice he largely worked on and all but stopped during Lendl’s tenure, but crept back in during his time with Mauresmo. The team even tried sitting away from the players’ reserved box but then again this is also an intrinsic part of Murray’s intensity.
The World No. 2 spoke to the Aegon Championships in-house TV and added:
“I think the most successful period of my career was while I was working with Ivan. I know what he can offer. The experiences he had I think psychologically he helped me in the major competitions and they’re obviously the events I’m trying to win and am competing for. I hope he can bring that same experience and those same benefits that he did last time.
“He’ll be here for the tournament and it’s good for him to spend a bit of time with the rest of the team as well to see how things work out. But provided everything’s good, it will hopefully go on for a long time.”
Murray will be bidding for a fifth title at Queen’s and it is understood that Lendl will be in the team for his opening round against Nicolas Mahut.
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