batz
G.O.A.T.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/te...ors-insists-Id-make-Andy-Murray-champion.html
I'm liking what Connors has to say - although Cahill is top of the wish according to this article.
Jimmy Connors, who has won more tennis tournaments than any other man, claims Andy Murray is at a watershed as he seeks a new coach capable of reversing his alarming slump.
'Murray's smart, he knows how to play the game beyond hitting tennis balls at Mach 5,' said Connors.
'At times, he's proved he can beat the best, but the story for me is how he handles what happens next. What does he think he needs to change?'
Looks familiar: Jimmy Connors sees much of himself in Andy Murray
Murray's calamitous downturn in form, and loss of confidence after three shocking defeats - against Marcos Baghdatis, Donald Young and Alex Bogomolov Jnr - since he was overwhelmed by Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final two months ago, led him to part company with his fourth coach, Alex Corretja.
And as the 23-year-old looks to hire an experienced, hardened winner who will be pivotal to the success or failure of his mission to win a Grand Slam title, it is understood Connors is on his radar, as is Darren Cahill, an Australian living in Las Vegas since he reinvigorated the final years of the great showman of the game, Andre Agassi.
Connors, 58, has forgotten more about the game than most have learned.
'Andy's still a kid, and his best years are in front of him, even though he has already been in the final of the US Open, and two finals at the Australian Open,' he said.
'But it's important for Andy to understand that you have to grasp - grab - those chances when they come as there's no knowing when they come around again. If you don't take advantage of them, before you know it your time has run out.
'I began watching his Australian Open final against Djokovic, but I admit I turned off the television. A few things I saw made me think the match was over in the first five or six games...'
Things on his mind: Andy Murray is in danger of wasting his talent
Murray's exasperation as another major final turned against him, after playing superb tennis in his six previous matches, surfaced that evening in Melbourne through his tendency, in times of stress, to round on those supporting him.
Connors said: 'If I'd done that once, I might have been forgiven; if I'd done it again, the place would have been empty. Once you're on the court, you're by yourself. Champions embrace that, figure it out and get the job done. The reality is that Andy is one of the few players with the ability to change his game.'
Connors sees much of himself in Murray. Like Connors, Murray was raised to play the game through the drive of an ambitious mother.
For Gloria Connors read Judy Murray.
Murray left home at 15 to become independent and refine his talent in a man's world as Connors had done.
While Murray moved from Dunblane, in Scotland, to a tennis academy in Barcelona, Connors had been uprooted from East St Louis, Illinois, to the country-club environment of California.
'Murray's the closest to me out there, the way he plays, the way he goes about his game,' said Connors.
'My mom gave me everything, but she let me go at 15 to be with Pancho Segura in California as she was dedicated to me becoming the best I could be.
'Pancho, and later, Pancho Gonzalez, gave me everything and more. There's more to it than just hitting balls. I learned as much from Segura and Gonzalez. And, there's a right way to practice. You have to listen and understand. I wanted people who could make me better.'
Connors, whose 109 tournament victories included eight Grand Slams - Wimbledon twice, the US Open five times, and one Australian Open - had a mantra Murray could do worse than adopt.
Front-runner: Darren Cahill could take over as Murray's coach
'I never wanted to retire and be left thinking, "what if?",' he said.
'I always believed that if you want something you have to do it now, because a career can end in a millisecond. I'm not looking for a gig, not soliciting business, but if I'm involved with anyone I'm not interested in rankings, I'm interested in winning.'
He brought that philosophy to Roddick, and during their 21-month alliance from the summer of 2006 the American rediscovered his zest to make the US Open final after just weeks together.
Connors said: 'If I learned a lot, one thing never changed - if I'm involved, with my reputation on the line, there's no messing around. It's a serious business. If it's Andy Roddick, or Andy Murray, I'd want him to win more. That's what I put into anything I do.
'Tennis is not rocket science. A couple of tweaks would make a world of difference to Andy. But unless he's willing to listen, it'd be no good.
'I'd ask one question, "Do you trust me? I'm going to make you a Grand Slam winner - all discussable, of course - but you have to trust me to give you a game to prepare you to beat any player, on any given day".
Relishing a scrap: Connors was never one to go down without a fight
'A player has to know I'm there to make him a winner. No matter how hard I might have been getting my ass kicked in my time, the player at the other end would take one look at me, and think, "You aren't dying are you, Connors? If I give you one little chance, you'll be all over me". I liked that I was thought of as a street-fighter.
'Anyone can win 6-2, 6-2, 6-2, but the champions are those who embrace the fight like Rod Laver, Gonzalez, Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras and Agassi, or the great champions of today, Federer and Nadal.
'Andy must decide if he's willing to make sacrifices, to bring the right attitude to the court. No matter what a coach says, only one person is going to make you a champion: yourself.'
Connors would not be cheap, but would be less expensive than the £750,000-a-year deal the LTA brokered to sign Brad Gilbert to coach Murray five years ago.
Another American, Larry Stefanki, currently with a fading Roddick, is said to be on Murray's shortlist of candidates.
Yet respected broadcaster Cahill, an adviser to adidas who have a clothing and shoe deal with Murray, remains top of the British star's list to join him.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/te...-make-Andy-Murray-champion.html#ixzz1IRvwiBPe
I'm liking what Connors has to say - although Cahill is top of the wish according to this article.
Jimmy Connors, who has won more tennis tournaments than any other man, claims Andy Murray is at a watershed as he seeks a new coach capable of reversing his alarming slump.
'Murray's smart, he knows how to play the game beyond hitting tennis balls at Mach 5,' said Connors.
'At times, he's proved he can beat the best, but the story for me is how he handles what happens next. What does he think he needs to change?'
Looks familiar: Jimmy Connors sees much of himself in Andy Murray
Murray's calamitous downturn in form, and loss of confidence after three shocking defeats - against Marcos Baghdatis, Donald Young and Alex Bogomolov Jnr - since he was overwhelmed by Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final two months ago, led him to part company with his fourth coach, Alex Corretja.
And as the 23-year-old looks to hire an experienced, hardened winner who will be pivotal to the success or failure of his mission to win a Grand Slam title, it is understood Connors is on his radar, as is Darren Cahill, an Australian living in Las Vegas since he reinvigorated the final years of the great showman of the game, Andre Agassi.
Connors, 58, has forgotten more about the game than most have learned.
'Andy's still a kid, and his best years are in front of him, even though he has already been in the final of the US Open, and two finals at the Australian Open,' he said.
'But it's important for Andy to understand that you have to grasp - grab - those chances when they come as there's no knowing when they come around again. If you don't take advantage of them, before you know it your time has run out.
'I began watching his Australian Open final against Djokovic, but I admit I turned off the television. A few things I saw made me think the match was over in the first five or six games...'
Things on his mind: Andy Murray is in danger of wasting his talent
Murray's exasperation as another major final turned against him, after playing superb tennis in his six previous matches, surfaced that evening in Melbourne through his tendency, in times of stress, to round on those supporting him.
Connors said: 'If I'd done that once, I might have been forgiven; if I'd done it again, the place would have been empty. Once you're on the court, you're by yourself. Champions embrace that, figure it out and get the job done. The reality is that Andy is one of the few players with the ability to change his game.'
Connors sees much of himself in Murray. Like Connors, Murray was raised to play the game through the drive of an ambitious mother.
For Gloria Connors read Judy Murray.
Murray left home at 15 to become independent and refine his talent in a man's world as Connors had done.
While Murray moved from Dunblane, in Scotland, to a tennis academy in Barcelona, Connors had been uprooted from East St Louis, Illinois, to the country-club environment of California.
'Murray's the closest to me out there, the way he plays, the way he goes about his game,' said Connors.
'My mom gave me everything, but she let me go at 15 to be with Pancho Segura in California as she was dedicated to me becoming the best I could be.
'Pancho, and later, Pancho Gonzalez, gave me everything and more. There's more to it than just hitting balls. I learned as much from Segura and Gonzalez. And, there's a right way to practice. You have to listen and understand. I wanted people who could make me better.'
Connors, whose 109 tournament victories included eight Grand Slams - Wimbledon twice, the US Open five times, and one Australian Open - had a mantra Murray could do worse than adopt.
Front-runner: Darren Cahill could take over as Murray's coach
'I never wanted to retire and be left thinking, "what if?",' he said.
'I always believed that if you want something you have to do it now, because a career can end in a millisecond. I'm not looking for a gig, not soliciting business, but if I'm involved with anyone I'm not interested in rankings, I'm interested in winning.'
He brought that philosophy to Roddick, and during their 21-month alliance from the summer of 2006 the American rediscovered his zest to make the US Open final after just weeks together.
Connors said: 'If I learned a lot, one thing never changed - if I'm involved, with my reputation on the line, there's no messing around. It's a serious business. If it's Andy Roddick, or Andy Murray, I'd want him to win more. That's what I put into anything I do.
'Tennis is not rocket science. A couple of tweaks would make a world of difference to Andy. But unless he's willing to listen, it'd be no good.
'I'd ask one question, "Do you trust me? I'm going to make you a Grand Slam winner - all discussable, of course - but you have to trust me to give you a game to prepare you to beat any player, on any given day".
Relishing a scrap: Connors was never one to go down without a fight
'A player has to know I'm there to make him a winner. No matter how hard I might have been getting my ass kicked in my time, the player at the other end would take one look at me, and think, "You aren't dying are you, Connors? If I give you one little chance, you'll be all over me". I liked that I was thought of as a street-fighter.
'Anyone can win 6-2, 6-2, 6-2, but the champions are those who embrace the fight like Rod Laver, Gonzalez, Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras and Agassi, or the great champions of today, Federer and Nadal.
'Andy must decide if he's willing to make sacrifices, to bring the right attitude to the court. No matter what a coach says, only one person is going to make you a champion: yourself.'
Connors would not be cheap, but would be less expensive than the £750,000-a-year deal the LTA brokered to sign Brad Gilbert to coach Murray five years ago.
Another American, Larry Stefanki, currently with a fading Roddick, is said to be on Murray's shortlist of candidates.
Yet respected broadcaster Cahill, an adviser to adidas who have a clothing and shoe deal with Murray, remains top of the British star's list to join him.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/te...-make-Andy-Murray-champion.html#ixzz1IRvwiBPe
