Murray’s Career Is Playing Out Similar To Coach Lendl’s

Written by: Staff on 29th January 2013

Murray’s Career Is Playing Out Similar To Coach Lendl’s

epa03555006 Andy Murray of Great Britain during his semi final match against Roger Federer of Switzerland at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 25 January 2013. EPA/Mark Kolbe Pool uses. Use in books requires separate approval. NO LICENSING FOR CONSUMER PRINTS. |

Tennis history is repeating itself, with Andy Murray now living the same career so far as coach Ivan Lendl. Three decades ago, the Czech lost five of his first six Grand Slam finals before turning the corner on his career and winning eight.

The first part of the narrative is happening for Murray, whose four-set loss to Novak Djokovic in three Australian Open final leave him with only the US Open 2012 to show after playing half a dozen finals at the majors – including three at Melbourne.

But Murray has vowed to press on: “My next goal is to try to play good tennis in Indian Wells and Miami in March,” said the Scot, who is skipping the upcoming Dubai event where he lost the final a year ago to Roger Federer.

“I’ve realized that when I set myself short-term goals, I tend to play better tennis.”

Outcome of the new one-event-at-a-time view may should be known soon enough. “Previously, after every Slam I would look way ahead to the next one and kind of take my eye off the ball with the other events.

“So that’s the immediate goal and also slightly think about the French Open.”

Despite making the 2011 semi-finals in Paris, Murray has never excelled on the French clay, but adds: “It’s a tournament I’m capable of doing well in. But, for me, it takes a lot of practice, a lot of hours on clay to get used to it.

“I didn’t do particularly well on the clay until the French last year (quarter-finals). “Indian Wells (from early March wasn’t good (second round loss to Donald Young) so there’s potential to pick up points and improve my rankings.”

©Daily tennis news wire

Topics: Andy Murray, Australian Open, French Open, ivan lendi, Melbourne, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, US Open