Courier Claims Lendl Took the Murray Job Only for the Money

Written by: Staff on 24th January 2012

Courier Claims Lendl Took the Murray Job Only for the Money |

As playing rivalries go between Grand Slam champions go, things were rather one sided between Ivan Lendl and Jim Courier with the former not allowing his opponent even a set in four meetings. Perhaps that explains Courier’s insistence of sending some verbal barbs back at Lendl in his capacity of Channel 7’s lead commentator at the Australian Open.

Courier insisted the sole reason for Lendl ending his self-imposed isolation from tennis and deciding to coach world no.4 Andy Murray was all based upon “mercenary reasons.”

Since agreeing to take over as Murray’s coach on New Year’s Eve, Lendl has seen his Scottish charge remain unbeaten, winning the Brisbane International title and moving impressively through to the quarter finals of the Australian Open.

However Courier maintained the liaison that has been the talk of tennis for most of January insisted financial incentives were integral in Lendl’s thinking.

“There is a reason and it is a little bit more mercenary,” said Courier. “He hasn’t been allowed to make any money from tennis for the past 15 years because he cashed in disability insurance. That is the reason Ivan is back. There are all sorts of complexities there.”

Lendl responded angrily, issuing a complete denial. “That’s ridiculous,” claimed the 51 year-old. “Jim shouldn’t be saying stuff like that. First of all, it’s wrong and he doesn’t have the proper information. End of story.”

Murray is equally bemused by the tone of Courier’s comments. “When you just get that little bit of extra help from someone that’s been there and done it many, many times, it helps,” said the fourth seed.

Lendl took his annoyance a step further, by blocking off Channel 7’s coaching box camera with first a towel and then his baseball cap.

“I just found it annoying that it was right in our face,” claimed Lendl. Asked about the incident, Lendl said: “I just figured the camera was a little hot. It was really warm out there. I was actually looking out for Channel 7, protecting their equipment.”

Later a Channel 7 spokesman issued a statement, saying: “We understand it was a practical joke. We have a sense of humor. We hope our viewers can continue to enjoy the shots from fan cam.”

Topics: Andy Murray, Ivan Lendl