Andy Murray Stays In Monte Carlo To Train With Coach Lendl

Written by: Staff on 23rd April 2013

Andy Murray Stays In Monte Carlo To Train With Coach Lendl

epa03665814 Andy Murray of Britain serves the ball to Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France during their second round match at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters tournament in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 17 April 2013. EPA/SEBASTIEN NOGIER |

Andy Murray has stayed behind at what is now a relatively quiet Monte Carlo Country Club to work for a few more days with coach Ivan Lendl to try and lift a sagging clay game, Murray was dropped from the world No. 2 ranking after his third-round loss last week against Stan Wawrinka in the principality.

With only two warm-up chances at ATP Masters 1000 events in Madrid and Rome remaining before the May 26 start of Roland Garros, there is no time to waste for the Scot. Lendl believes that his pupil can turn the corner on a surface on which he should be comfortable after learning his game on the red clay of Barcelona.

But instead of playing this week’s Barcelona Open headed by David Ferrer and Rafael Nadal, Murray has chosen to stay away from competition. But Lendl knows that making the switch to clay remain difficult for Murray.

“I keep telling Andy that for him, the transition on to clay courts was as difficult as it was for me to switch to grass,” the 53-year-old coach told London’s Mail on Sunday. “It’s not a natural surface for Andy, so he has to be patient. In many ways, it’s a different game. It just takes him time to adjust, that’s all.”’
Shortly after his crushing loss to Swiss Wawrinka, Murray defended his choice to not play again until Madrid in just under a fortnight. “As long as I get enough practice over the next week here, and afterwards, that will help me for the next six weeks or so.

“I haven’t played on clay for ten-and-a-half months, and you need different tactics and movement. Every day I am here I’ll feel better on court.” Murray’s best clay showing was a surprise Paris semi-final in 2011, which he lost to Rafael Nadal.

Murray will leave Monte Carlo late in the week to return to London before heading to Madrid to resume competition.

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Andy Murray, Clay tennis, Ivan Lendl, Madrid Masters, Monte Carlo Masters, Roland Garros, Rome Masters, Sports, Tennis News