Andy Murray and Ivan Lendl Are Still Going Strong

Written by: Staff on 19th October 2012

Andy Murray and Ivan Lendl Are Still Going Strong

epa03299017 Andy Murray of Britain (L) and his coach Ivan Lendl (R) during a training session at Aorangi Park prior to Sunday's men's final match against Roger Federer for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 07 July 2012. EPA/JONATHAN BRADY |

Ivan Lendl expects his coaching charge Andy Murray to flourish in 2013 following last month’s US Open triumph and insists the future for the Scot should hold several more Grand Slam titles.

Murray and Lendl will celebrate their first anniversary of working together on New Year’s Eve and there is no doubt the influence of the former world no.1 and eight time winner of major singles titles has been crucial in elevating the 25 year-old Scot into a Grand Slam champion.

Lendl was insistent: “I don’t see why Andy should not have another big year in 2013. But nothing is God given; it’s all about hard work.

“It is very flattering that people say I’ve helped Andy to win a first Grand Slam but all the credit goes to him. He is the one who has done the work and won the matches. Would he have won the titles this year if I wasn’t there? Maybe, maybe not, or he could have won even more. We will never know, however, if I have played any small part in achieving the gold medal and the US Open title then I’m very happy for him.”

The pair will re-unite for the first time since the US Open win in New York when they arrive in Paris for the last Masters 1000 series event of the year, the BNP Paribas Masters at the Palais de Omnisports Bercy which begins on October 29.

Thereafter comes the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at the London 02 Arena where Murray is determined to do well in front of his own fans. But the major push will come in next January’s Australian Open and speaking to the London Evening Standard, Lendl said: “The work we do leading into the Australian Open will be very important because we can make really big progress.

“It’s a good call by Andy to aim to become No1 in the world and he understands that it’s not only about playing well in the majors, it also takes consistency throughout the year to achieve that. I don’t see any reason why Andy won’t win many more Grand Slam titles.”

Lendl has never been a man who sees any virtue in wasting time and from the outset believed he could propel Murray up that extra level required to compete with the likes of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in major finals.

An Olympic gold medal and the US Open title are proof of the change Lendl has made.” I was convinced from the beginning Andy would win a Grand Slam because I could see how good a player he was,” said the 52 year-old. “Andy learned very quickly from a couple of losses; against Djokovic in the Australian Open and then against Federer in the Wimbledon final and became an even better player.

“I don’t compare winning the US Open as a player and being there when Andy did it as a coach. My playing days were so long ago and there has been another big chapter in my life in between those tennis moments. Coming back after helping my daughters with their golf and driving them around to events was a big, enjoyable chapter in my life.

“I have gone from tennis player, then a family man and father to helping Andy achieve his goals. It was a fantastic evening in New York and I could not have been happier for him.”

Topics: Andy Murray, British tennis news, Ivan Lendl, men tennis news, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Scottish tennis news, US Open Champion