Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Wimbledon 2013: Andy Murray hails the Ivan Lendl effect as coach finally cracks a smile

Murray hails the Lendl effect as coach finally cracks a smile
Master and pupil: Murray poses with coach Ivan Lendl at the Wimbledon Champions? Ball (Picture: Getty Images)

Ivan Lendl allowed himself a rare smile and then told Andy Murray he was proud that he had just become the first Briton in nearly eight decades to win the men?s title at Wimbledon.

The classy Czech won three French, three US and two Australian Open titles but never triumphed at the All England Club, losing the 1986 and 1987 finals.

Since becoming Murray?s coach he has transformed the world No.2 from a player with real potential into the man everyone else fears facing.

Murray has become an Olympic gold medallist, a US Open champion and, yes, finally, the king of Wimbledon, under Lendl?s watchful eye and the pair have formed a hugely successful working relationship.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 07:  Andy Murray of Great Britain's coach Ivan Lendl and Danny Vallverdu watch his Gentlemen's Singles Final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia on day thirteen of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 7, 2013 in London, England.  (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Emotions in check: Lendl was his trademark impassive self during the final (Picture: Getty Images)
Andy Murray of Britain, left, embraces his coach Ivan Lendl after defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the Men's singles final match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Sunday, July 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Big hug: Murray and Lendl embrace after the Scot?s triumph (Picture: AP)

Lends was, tellingly and fittingly, the first person Murray shared his victory with as he climbed the Centre Court seats to the players? box after his straight-sets victory over Novak Djokovic, and the 26-year-old Scot revealed: ?He just said he was proud of me which coming from him means a lot.

?You know, he doesn?t smile too much in public but when he?s away from the crowds and the cameras he?s a very different character.

?Ideally he would have won Wimbledon himself but I think this was the next best thing for him. I?m saying it seriously.

?He believed in me when a lot of people didn?t. He stuck by me through some tough losses the last couple of years. He?s been very patient with me. I?m just happy I managed to do it for him.?

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 07:  Gentlemen's Singles Champion Andy Murray of Great Britain (C) poses with Coach Ivan Lendl (L) and hitting partner Dani Vallverdu during the Wimbledon Championships 2013 Winners Ball at InterContinental Park Lane Hotel on July 7, 2013 in London, England.  (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Three?s the magic number: Murray, with coach Lendl and hitting partner Dani Vallverdu (Picture: Getty Images)

Murray then pinpointed the differences Lendl?s coaching has made to his game and how he has turned him into a multiple grand-slam winner.

?He?s made me learn more from the losses that I?ve had than maybe I did in the past,? Murray added. ?I think he?s always been very honest with me.

?He?s always told me exactly what he has thought and in tennis it is not always that easy to do in a player/coach relationship. The player is sometimes the one in charge.

?Sometimes coaches are not always that comfortable doing that but he?s been extremely honest with me. If I work hard he?s happy, if I don?t he?s disappointed and he will tell me.

?And, yeah, when I have lost matches like last year?s final, he told me he was proud of the way I played in a grand slam final like that. He?s got my mentality slightly different going into matches like that.?

Source: http://metro.co.uk/2013/07/08/wimbledon-2013-andy-murray-hails-the-ivan-lendl-effect-as-coach-finally-cracks-a-smile-3872815/

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