Andy Murray and his long-time coach and mentor Ivan Lendl have parted methods for the third and presumably the final time, as Murray searches for the additional spark which may carry him again among the many world’s elite.
This announcement has been coming. With solely the Davis Cup Finals left to play, Murray’s 2023 has been a narrative of frustration, stuffed with near-misses and might-have-beens. He concluded his final tour occasion in Paris final week by saying “If I need to preserve going, I’m going to wish plenty of work.”
If it involves quantity of coaching, Lendl was by no means going to be the proper man for Murray. Lendl lives in Florida, hates travelling, and solely turns up for the largest occasions whereas following the remainder of the season remotely.
When Murray was already enjoying top-ten tennis, Lendl’s presence added a sure X-factor. It may be no coincidence that Murray gained the US Open and Wimbledon throughout Lendl’s first time period of obligation (2011-2014), earlier than including one other Wimbledon title throughout his second (2016-17).
These spells had been marked by a extra aggressive tactical method from Murray. An instinctively risk-averse participant, he started to hit out extra – particularly on his serve and forehand – when Lendl assured him that this was the one option to beat one of the best gamers.
However the Murray of 2023 wants greater than only a morale-boosting face within the crowd on the majors. He has been climbing the rankings for the reason that implantation of his steel him 4 years in the past, however that course of seems to have stalled, together with his present place of No 42 being solely seven locations increased than the place he began the season.
If there may be one factor that separates Murray from the gamers within the high 20, it’s that he struggles to take cost of rallies when given the chance. This was one other level that he made in Paris, saying “Plenty of the fellows are serving huge, getting plenty of free factors, and it was one thing I may depend on quite a bit. I’m not doing that now.”
In an announcement launched on Friday, Murray stated “Ivan has been by my facet on the largest moments in my profession. I can’t thank him sufficient for all that he’s helped me obtain. He’s a singular character who understands what it takes to win, and I’ve learnt an terrible lot over time from him.”
The identical assertion stated that Murray will proceed working together with his present teaching back-ups, who’re Mark Hilton and doubles specialist Jonny O’Mara. He’s additionally understood to be eager on hiring the skilled Canadian Louis Cayer for just a few weeks of labor in the course of the low season. Cayer has already helped tinker with Murray’s service motion as soon as, and is extensively considered a person of nice technical perception.
One wonders, nevertheless, whether or not Murray will look to bolster his staff subsequent season. May he search for an even bigger identify? One motive why Lendl has overseen extra success than any of his different coaches is that Murray can’t flip spherical to him when he doesn’t like a suggestion and say “Present me your grand-slam titles.”
There’s additionally the query of Hilton’s availability. One other highly-regarded coach, Hilton has a contract with the Garden Tennis Affiliation which entails spinning plenty of completely different plates directly. This was the rationale why Dan Evans sacked him unexpectedly in 2020, and it could possibly be a problem for Murray as nicely.
O’Mara was employed in the summertime as a degree of consistency: somebody who can journey with Murray to each event and function a hitting companion. Having solely lately stepped off the doubles circuit himself, he can ship the ball precisely the place it’s required. However there’s a sure peculiarity to this rent as nicely. Though O’Mara is a really personable fellow, and thus a very good man to journey with, he has no earlier teaching expertise.
The fag-end of Murray’s 2023 season was not a cheerful interval, that includes 5 defeats in his final six matches and a bunch of smashed rackets. “I’m not likely having fun with it simply now,” he admitted in that very same Paris interview. “Simply when it comes to how I really feel on the court docket and the way I’m enjoying. For the final 5, six months, there’s not likely been a lot positivity there.”
The necessity for a change was evident, so this announcement ought to be encouraging for Murray’s many admirers. He continues to consider that he’s able to elite tennis, given the proper preparation. If he improves his capacity to assault impartial balls – which ought to simply be a matter of repetition – he can nonetheless bounce again strongly in 2024.
