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Ivan Lendl the Right Person to Handle Andy Murray's Outbursts
Andy Murray won his only two Grand Slam titles under the tutelage of Ivan Lendl. | PHOTO: Getty Images
June 14th, 2016 | 07:34 AM | 1005 views
UNITED STATES
Andy Murray and Ivan Lendl are renewing their once-productive partnership. Some will see it as a desperate measure. Others will embrace it as a potential feel-good story along the lines of the Prodigal Son.
It might well be both.
It has been more than four years since Lendl first emerged from the Florida golf links to coach Murray and help turn the Scot's career around. Murray, then 25, was a desperate, four-time Grand Slam runner-up. Before that first year was out, he had punched through to win the 2012 US Open and an Olympic gold medal.
The following year, Murray became the first British man in three-quarters of a century to win Wimbledon. The success of the relationship triggered a "supercoach" boom, as retired icons such as Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker became hot commodities on the coaching market.
Lendl, an eight-time Grand Slam champion and prudent individual, didn't need the money. He helped Murray because he thought he could. He also recognized a kindred spirit. Both had failed in four Grand Slam finals. Both were raised by tennis-mad mothers. Lendl, a Czech expatriate, figured out how to toughen up and win on his own. He knew things that could help Murray.
Once Murray broke through, Lendl tired of the traveling required by the job. The men parted amicably in March 2014. Murray soon became the first male player to hire a female coach when he signed up Amelie Mauresmo. They got along well and enjoyed spotty success until she was on maternity leave from July 2015 until this year's Australian Open.
Murray's decision to hire a female coach was hailed as enlightened. But it didn't produce the only thing that matters to him now: major titles. Working with Mauresmo, Murray lost two Australian Open finals to Novak Djokovic. Murray and Mauresmo called it quits shortly before the recent French Open -- where Murray lost another final to Djokovic.
"Andy is complex," Mauresmo told the French sports daily L'Equipe in a surprisingly candid interview shortly before the French Open began. "On the court, he can be the opposite of what he is in life. It can be confusing. ... I had the impression we got to the end of what could be done professionally."
Murray acted quickly to quash rumors of a rift, explaining that the relationship ended because Mauresmo was unable to spend enough time with him. He told reporters in Paris, "Me and Amelie have a good relationship; we certainly didn't fall out."
Mauresmo's discomfort with elements of Murray's behavior suggests one area where Lendl can make an immediate difference. Murray likely will be reluctant to indulge some of his temperamental, energy-sapping behavior with Lendl back in the player-guest box.
Murray trashes himself. He also abuses his support team when things start to go sideways during a match. His loyalists sit unblinking in the guest box when he directs his tirades their way. When Mauresmo tired of Murray's outbursts at the Miami Open, she went off into the stands and sat apart. Lendl might go off, too -- and just keep walking.
When he first worked with Lendl, Murray had good self-control. There were solid reasons for that. First, Lendl's financial independence guaranteed Murray's respect. Second, Lendl was not just an authority figure, but easily as strong a personality. Third, the partnership was working. Murray was getting answers and finding success.
Murray won't start winning Grand Slam titles left and right just by controlling his moods and temper. But those self-sabotaging outbursts have been indicative of a greater, general frustration.
"I think the most successful period of my career was while I was working with Ivan," Murray told Aegon Championships TV last week. "I know what he can offer. ... I hope he can bring that same experience and those same benefits that he did last time."
Lendl has been watching Murray and his rivals, and he has ideas about what Murray needs to do to beat them again. He kept in touch with Murray during their split.
Murray lost the three Grand Slam finals he has played since his great performance at Wimbledon in 2013. He's 2-8 in Grand Slam finals overall. It's clear that Murray lost the knack for winning that Lendl helped instill, with Djokovic largely responsible for the Scot's shortcomings.
Murray is 29 years old and ranked No. 2. He's playing some of the best tennis of his life. The trouble is that Djokovic is as well. So were Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal a few years back, when Murray began collecting those runner-up trophies. What is he supposed to do? Get himself cryogenically frozen until those others have called a career?
Desperate times call for desperate measures. And these are desperate times for anyone hoping to take the measure of Djokovic in a Grand Slam final.
Source:
courtesy of ESPN
by Peter Bodo
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