What Andy Murray said Ivan Lendl had added to his sport after profitable his first Grand Slam title

With every near-miss Andy Murray suffered in his quest for a maiden Grand Slam title, many feared he was destined to just be the next practically man in British tennis.

In an period outlined by the dominance of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, it was nearly unattainable for nearly anyone outside of the ‘huge three’ to get their fingers on a main trophy, and Murray definitely felt that in the early levels of his profession.

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At Grand Slam occasions from 2008 to 2011, the Scot made eight semifinals, advancing to the title bout on three separate events. Across those eight campaigns, with the exception of Wimbledon 2009, when he was crushed by Andy Roddick, Murray was denied by one of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic every time.

In December 2011, Murray made a resolution that would finally change the course of his profession: hiring eight-time Grand Slam singles champion Ivan Lendl. The information of the Czech legend taking the then-24-year-old under his wing came out on New Year’s Eve, and it did not take long in 2012 for Murray’s appointment to begin paying dividends.

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With Lendl in his nook, Murray went all the approach in his first event marketing campaign of the season by profitable the Brisbane International title. He then went on to attain the semifinals of the Australian Open and made his first Wimbledon last.

The loss to Federer in the last of the 2012 Wimbledon Championships was an emotional one, but he shortly bounced back later that summer season by beating the Swiss in the Olympic males’s singles last to win his first of two gold medals.

In September, Murray then finally got over the line at a Grand Slam, beating Djokovic in the US Open last to claim his first main title. Speaking at the Shanghai Masters roughly a month after the triumph, Murray had extremely high reward for Lendl.

“We speak about pretty much everything to do with my tennis career,” said Murray of his coach in a press convention. “I mean, you know, I always said it was only a few percent I needed to improve and change, and he’s definitely helped a lot with that.

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“You know, he gave me a bit of additional confidence. He gave me a bit of additional perception. We labored onerous on a lot of issues and I trusted what he said. He introduced clearly a lot of expertise ‑ not just to me but to the relaxation of the guys, to the huge occasions, also to the preparation of those occasions.

“Yeah, I mean, it’s hard to put it into, I don’t know, a number, say exactly how much he’s helped. But I also have to remember all the stuff that I’d done before. I had got close before. But just getting over that final hurdle, I probably needed someone like him to help with that.

“Yeah, it’s labored effectively. I’ve actually loved working with him. I hope he’s loved it, as effectively. He seems to have anyway, so I hope that continues.” Murray went on to win Wimbledon for the first time in 2013 with Lendl, before the two parted ways in 2014. Murray rehired Lendl before Wimbledon in 2016, which he won to secure his third major.

What Ivan Lendl said about Andy Murray after being employed by him

As per Fox Sports in 2012, Lendl spoke extremely of Murray after being appointed to his staff. “I see a man who needs to win, a man who needs to work onerous,” said Lendl. “Obviously, I see the parallels between his profession and my profession, and I need his profession to finish up like mine.

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“We have been through similar things, things I went through, he likes to work hard I like to work hard. I also admire his guts for hiring me because he had to know it would create a lot of interest.

“It would have been very straightforward just to rent someone, just another coach, and not get a high-profile particular person. Obviously I actually get pleasure from Andy’s sense of humor. Hopefully he enjoys mine. We’ve had good laughs. I think it’s important that it’s not only work but enjoyable as effectively.”

Outside of his work with Murray, Lendl has also had teaching stints with Alexander Zverev and Hubert Hurkacz.