US Edition
Andy Murray splits with coach Ivan Lendl for third time
The Scot is in need of a change after admitting after his loss in Paris he needed to do 'a lot of work' if he was to continue playing
Andy Murray and his long-time coach and mentor Ivan Lendl have parted ways for the third and presumably the last time, as Murray searches for the extra spark that might carry him back among the world’s elite.
This announcement has been coming. With only the Davis Cup Finals left to play, Murray’s 2023 has been a story of frustration, full of near-misses and might-have-beens. He concluded his last tour event in Paris last week by saying “If I want to keep going, I’m going to need a lot of work.”
If it comes to volume of training, Lendl was never going to be the right man for Murray. Lendl lives in Florida, hates travelling, and only turns up for the biggest events while following the rest of the season remotely.
When Murray was already playing top-ten tennis, Lendl’s presence added a certain X-factor. It can be no coincidence that Murray won the US Open and Wimbledon during Lendl’s first term of duty (2011-2014), before adding another Wimbledon title during his second (2016-17).
These spells were marked by a more aggressive tactical approach from Murray. An instinctively risk-averse player, he began to hit out more – especially on his serve and forehand – when Lendl assured him that this was the only way to beat the best players.
But the Murray of 2023 needs more than just a morale-boosting face in the crowd at the majors. He has been climbing the rankings since the implantation of his metal him four years ago, but that process appears to have stalled, with his current position of No 42 being only seven places higher than where he started the season.
If there is one thing that separates Murray from the players in the top 20, it is that he struggles to take charge of rallies when given the opportunity. This was another point that he made in Paris, saying “Lots of the guys are serving big, getting a lot of free points, and it used to be something I could rely on quite a lot. I’m not doing that now.”
In a statement released on Friday, Murray said “Ivan has been by my side at the biggest moments in my career. I can’t thank him enough for all that he’s helped me achieve. He’s a unique character who understands what it takes to win, and I’ve learnt an awful lot over the years from him.”
The same statement said that Murray will continue working with his existing coaching back-ups, who are Mark Hilton and doubles specialist Jonny O’Mara. He is also understood to be keen on hiring the experienced Canadian Louis Cayer for a few weeks of work during the off-season. Cayer has already helped tinker with Murray’s service action once, and is widely regarded as a man of great technical insight.
One wonders, however, whether Murray will look to bolster his team next season. Might he look for a bigger name? One reason why Lendl has overseen more success than any of his other coaches is that Murray can’t turn round to him when he doesn’t like a suggestion and say “Show me your grand-slam titles.”
There is also the question of Hilton’s availability. Another highly-regarded coach, Hilton has a contract with the Lawn Tennis Association which involves spinning a number of different plates at once. This was the reason why Dan Evans sacked him unexpectedly in 2020, and it could be an issue for Murray as well.
O’Mara was hired in the summer as a point of consistency: someone who can travel with Murray to every tournament and serve as a hitting partner. Having only recently stepped off the doubles circuit himself, he can deliver the ball exactly where it is required. But there is a certain peculiarity to this hire as well. Although O’Mara is a very personable fellow, and thus a good man to travel with, he has no previous coaching experience.
The fag-end of Murray’s 2023 season was not a happy period, featuring five defeats in his last six matches and a host of smashed rackets. “I’m not really enjoying it just now,” he admitted in that same Paris interview. “Just in terms of how I feel on the court and how I’m playing. For the last five, six months, there’s not really been much positivity there.”
The need for a change was evident, so this announcement should be encouraging for Murray’s many admirers. He continues to believe that he is capable of elite tennis, given the right preparation. If he improves his ability to attack neutral balls – which should just be a matter of repetition – he can still bounce back strongly in 2024.