Fitnesss Is The Word Of The Tournament

Written by: Staff on 11th January 2013

Fitnesss Is The Word Of The Tournament |

With temperatures again nudging the 100 degrees Fahrenheit mark at the Australian Open, the tournament is renowned as being a battle of the fittest and US Open champion Andy Murray is perfectly placed to again come out on top.

So says Murray’s fitness trainer Jez Green who masterminded the program that in five years has transformed the Scot from somebody who was physically sub-standard when it came to contesting with the worlds best to a pristine athlete who proved in last September’s final in New York, that he was better equipped for the marathon than Australian Open winner Djokovic.

“I still find it hard to believe all the things that he can do,” maintained Green. “Andy is naturally fast, but he is also so strong: on his best day, he can do 27 pull-ups and push 300 lbs on the leg-press. He could probably run 400 metres in less than 50 seconds if he trained for it.

“He is a big, powerful guy, his flexibility is extraordinary. Andy has lazy speed. He doesn’t look as if he’s moving that fast, but it’s deceptive. He’s been clocked at moving at ten metres per second over very short intervals, maybe even as short as a single step, which is as fast as Usain Bolt. I’m not saying he is that fast over 100 metres, but he has great acceleration when he is chasing down a drop shot.

“Even more valuable than his flat speed is the ability to stop and turn so quickly. He’s putting three times his body weight through his legs in that moment, so they have to be seriously strong. But, above all, he is fast with his eyes: he picks up the cues so quickly and he knows where the ball is going that much faster than almost anyone else. All the guys in the top ten have that ability to some extent.”

Djokovic looked to be unbeatable over distance after beating Rafael Nadal in five grueling sets in last January’s Australian Open final, at five hours and 53 minutes the longest ever major final. But Murray was the stronger in New York and Djokovic was forced to call a medical time out before losing out to Murray in another epic five setter.

“Andy’s fitness record in matches is good; it’s almost unknown that he has to pull out,” continued Green. “These guys are so strong they can compensate if they have a problem. It’s almost like they switch over to other muscle groups like a computer running a different program.

“The training we do is very specific: we’ve never done a bench press, for instance, because tennis is all about back strength. It’s a pulling sport, not a pushing sport, in that you use your big muscle groups to pull the racket back and turn your body into a spring. Then you unwind and drive with your legs.

“Andy is moving towards his physiological peak from 25 to 28. He achieved a 200 beat per minute maximum heart rate. His maximum minute ventilation is indicative of a highly trained athlete and has increased since last year’s test. His oxygen pulse, which is an indication of how much blood and oxygen he can consume for every beat of his heart, is still extremely high.”

However Green is full of praise for Murray ’s two great rivals. “What you’re seeing in this generation is a group of guys with incredible genetics,” he said. “Novak has a wonderful wiry strength and tremendous physical flexibility.

“Then with Roger Federer, you can try to play like him by imitating his footwork. But he is just born with something that sets him apart. The work you do as a fitness trainer is about trying to maximize those qualities.”