Ivan Lendl knows what it takes to move a player’s game to the next level and he believes he can help Andy Murray do it.
The career of Lendl, who was named as the British No1’s new coach on New Year’s Eve, showed certain parallels to that of Murray as the 51-year-old lost his first four grand slam finals.
Murray, 24, has lost three but Lendl, who went on to claim eight grand slam titles, believes the Scot can make the same step up as he did under his own coach Tony Roche.
“To me this is like Groundhog Day – I have been in this movie,” Lendl said. “I was that player once, who needed something to help make it work, it was the same as I was before I hired Rochey. What happened then changed my career around.”
The Czech-born US citizen continued: “What excites me about this partnership? More than anything, it is simply that this is absolutely the best match-up.
“Our senses of humour are very similar and we have an understanding that we need to bring our best all the time if we want to achieve.
“I didn’t get everything I wanted from tennis, not everyone does, but it is about not wasting chances. It does not mean that it will work as we want it, but I believe it will.”
Murray is playing in the Brisbane International this week. The first grand slam of the year, the Australian Open, begins on 16 January.
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