09/01/2012 21:59 CEST - ATP TOUR

Murray and Lendl
Will it work?

Ivan Lendl

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The Scots believe in doing something special for Hogmanay and though Andy Murray may be 12,000 miles away from those who first-footed for the New Year in his home-town of Dunblane, he certainly gave them something on which to ponder after announcing Ivan Lendl is the man who will hopefully steer him to an elusive Grand Slam title.

As a player Lendl certainly knew the major formula of how to win. With eight Grand Slam titles to his name and 270 weeks as the world’s no.1 ranked player, his record is one of the most respected in the sport. However when it comes to coaching, the 51 year-old is a complete novice and, as many who have gone before him and tried to influence the thinking of 24 year-old Murray will maintain, he has taken on one of the most demanding jobs in the game.

However Murray decided the time was right for a high profile addition to his support team before the start of another season. “It was important to me that any new person joining my team was able to add fresh insight," said the 24 year-old Scot. "Ivan's impact on the game is unquestionable and he brings experience and knowledge that few others have, particularly in major tournaments. I look forward to working with him going forward."

It is understood Lendl will not be with Murray as he begins his 2012 campaign on Tuesday as top seed of the Brisbane International but will fly to Melbourne and link up with his new charge for a week of preparations before the year’s initial Grand Slam tournament that begins on January 16.

Lendl, Czech-born but American domiciled for more than 30 years and twice Australian Open champion in 1989 and 1990, enthused: "I am really excited to have the opportunity to work with Andy. He is a unique talent and I look forward to trying to help him reach his goals."

The likes of Brad Gilbert, newly appointed Spanish David Cup captain Alex Corretja and the British duo of Miles Maclagan and Mark Petchey all became frustrated at Murray’s single-mindedness and apparent reluctance to take on advice. As Gilbert recalled: “Andy is very argumentative if he feels strongly about something. A lot of people in his team gave into him. I didn't so we would have many differences of opinion. It wasn’t going to last."

As personalities go, Lendl is one of the most complex men ever to hoist a major tennis trophy. He was not a popular character during his pomp; indeed John McEnroe once said of his greatest foe: “He’s so selfish. And he’s certainly not the kind of guy who brings out the best in others.”

Until just a few months ago Lendl had no interest in coaching, indeed he ostracized himself from the entire sport of tennis after retiring in 1994 and concentrated on the golf course. He once was given a wild card into the Czech Open and even won an event on the Celebrity Tour as well as managing the emergent competitive college careers of three of his daughters.

Finally Lendl was tempted back to tennis a little less than two years ago. The longstanding back condition, which allowed him to swing a club but wouldn’t permit him to hit a serve or backhand, was finally diagnosed as facet joint syndrome and a ruptured disk and successfully treated.

He was lured into playing some high profile exhibition matches against former rivals McEnroe and Mats Wilander. He was due to play last month’s AEGON Masters at London’s Royal Albert Hall until forced to make a late withdrawal because of injury.

Earlier this year Lendl made the short journey from his Floridian home in Vero Beach to Key Biscayne where Murray was experiencing one of the most demoralising troughs of his career. Following a second Australian Open final defeat, this time at the hands of Djokovic, he has plummeted into a state of confusion and apparent depression. A fortnight earlier he had lost at Indian Wells to American Donald Young in the BNP Paribas Open, then ranked world no.143. Things got worse with another embarrassing loss to Alex Bogomolov Jr, another American qualifier, this time ranked 118 in the world.

Lendl and his long-time manager Jerry Solomon had been looking for the right pedigree of player to offer expertise. They had confided in contacts of Lendl’s desire to try his hand at coaching and Murray seemed to fit the bill perfectly.

Overtures were made to Murray’s management company, XIX Entertainment that also handle the affairs of David Beckham and Lewis Hamilton. But nothing more transpired as Murray went on to recapture his form, reach the semi-finals of the remaining three Grand Slams of the year, capture titles at London’s Queen’s Club, Cincinnati, and a impressive Asian swing in Bangkok, Tokyo and Shanghai. Things were were going smoothly with the occasional input of Darren Cahill, the Australian who coached both Lleyton Hewitt and Andre Agassi, but couldn’t commit full-time because of contractual obligations to adidas and ESPN television.

However Murray clearly was not content and after pulling out of November’s Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at London’s 02 Arena after just one match because of an injured groin, he headed back to Miami to prepare for the New Year and clearly restore negotiations with Lendl.

The pair met just before Christmas and now Lendl becomes the most high-profile coaching novice since Jimmy Connors agreed to work with Andy Roddick. “I called him up in Miami and spoke to him on the phone, talked to him about my game, what he thought about it," sid Murray. "I liked what he said and how he felt about my game and then he thought it would be a good idea that we meet up, so we met up and went from there.

"He has obviously got a lot of experience - I also think he has been through a lot of the same things that I have been through, so I am sure he can help me mentally with certain things."

There is a distinct link between the careers of Lendl and Murray. The man born in Communist Czechoslovakia lost his first four Grand Slam finals; the 1981 French Open to Bjorn Borg, the 1982 and 1983 U.S.Opens to Jimmy Connors, and the 1983 the Australian Open to Wilander. Thereafter Lendl became a serial victor although Wimbledon was always a prize that avoided him and ultimately became an obsession.

Murray’s failure count in major finals currently stands at three (two Australian Open and the 2008 U.S. Open) and it has been apparent to many that he requires an experienced voice to guide him through the psychological minefields that await in the biggest of matches. Murray continued: “I spoke to him about a lot of the top players and how I am going to beat those players and how to see their weakness and how I can exploit them and I like that, so I am sure he will help me very tactically as well.

"He is also one of the most successful tennis players ever as well, so he has obviously a lot of knowledge and information that he can give me and pass on to me.He was just a very honest guy as well, which is very important because not everybody is like that. A lot of people are maybe too nice sometimes, they just don't want to upset you or say the wrong thing, but he was very honest, very open and that was important."

Simon Fuller, head of XIX Entertainment and unquestionably better versed with the pop world after managing the Spice Girls and initiating American Idol commented: “Having a champion like Lendl join his team will help Andy achieve his ultimate ambitions."

Yet many believe the turning point in Lendl’s playing career was the hiring of the wily Australian Tony Roche as his coach. Just a couple of weeks ago Lendl was questioned about Murray’s potential and said: “Andy is a great player and I still believe he is going to win his fair share of majors. He’s been steadily improving over the years, and was a bit unlucky that he ran into Djokovic this year at the Australian who was just on top form.”

Roche is convinced this is a positive step for Murray. “Ivan is back in tennis and that is fantastic for our sport," said the Aussie. "I mean, he was just a giant of the game. He didn't want anything to do with it for 15 years. I'm happy he's back for Andy's sake and also our sport's.

"People have always had the wrong impression of him. First of all, he's a very intelligent guy, very smart about tennis but just very intelligent in general. He's a fun guy, you know, great company, someone who was completely different to the person you saw on the court. That was his office between those lines and he went out there with a job to do. No-one could knock his record as a player but I don't think the media ever really wanted to get to know the other side of him."

"I've got to say it's a really good move from Andy, an especially good move," said the veteran. "Anyone who knows Ivan will tell you how much he's going to bring to the table for Andy. Few people in our sport have ever trained as hard as Ivan or been as professional. All the things his career was based on, like working hard and being meticulous with preparation and execution and that ability he had to concentrate on what was in front of him for hours on end, will rub off on Andy. Ivan was always looking for the edge, even in the smallest ways, and now he'll be doing it on Andy's behalf. Whether it was the way he trained, tinkering with his equipment, getting his diet right."
 

Barry Flatman