Murray admits to missing Lendl

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"Andy Murray admitted he is "possibly" lacking direction without a permanent coach after losing 6-3 6-2 to world number 46 Santiago Giraldo in Madrid.

Murray, 27, split with Ivan Lendl in March after a two-year partnership in which he won the US Open and Wimbledon.

"Possibly," said Murray when asked if he was missing the leadership provided by Lendl.

"When I stopped working with Ivan, that was always going to be the case for a few weeks."

The Scot, who resumes his French Open preparations in Rome next week, added that he hopes to have a new coach "soon".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/27333899

This confirms my view that it was Lendl who suddenly and unexpectedly decided to call it quits and that his decision left Murray high and dry, a bit bewildered and rudderless.

You could argue that a player of Murray's calibre and proven track record should not have felt so dependant on a coach (Lendl was the latest in a longish line) but it's obvious that Lendl was different and Murray really bonded with him and achieved his greatest results in partnership with him. I think he's feeling a bit like an orphan at the moment and its clearly re-inforcing his lack of confidence.

Let's hope that he can find a suitable and worthy replacement soon!

 

[dafinch]

How does it "confirm" anything, especially that "....it was Lendl who suddenly and unexpectedly decided to call it quits?" You think that the person who(possibly) ended a relationship, business or otherwise, doesn't sometimes have regrets about having done so? What does that comment have to do with how suddenly the relationship did, or didn't, end?

 

[Sid_Vicious]

Andy was playing with a denser string pattern in Madrid as well. The folks in the pro player equipment section pointed it out. He is apparently using a 18X20 string pattern rather than the 16X19 he does usually. That is a pretty big change usually, but Andy apparently played with a 18X20 string pattern in the past.

 

[stringertom]

So Andy doesn't "walk like an Egyptian"? Or course he's gonna miss him. Now, he's officially out of the land of "da Nile".

I wish his new team luck...they've got a lot of work ahead of them and the game needs it to succeed and SOOOOOOON!

 

[monfed]

I think the timing was off. He should've held on to Lendl till he got back to form.

 

[jaggy]

Nice admission, he is more honest than many

 

[vernonbc]

This confirms my view that it was Lendl who suddenly and unexpectedly decided to call it quits and that his decision left Murray high and dry, a bit bewildered and rudderless.

You could argue that a player of Murray's calibre and proven track record should not have felt so dependant on a coach (Lendl was the latest in a longish line) but it's obvious that Lendl was different and Murray really bonded with him and achieved his greatest results in partnership with him. I think he's feeling a bit like an orphan at the moment and its clearly re-inforcing his lack of confidence.

Let's hope that he can find a suitable and worthy replacement soon!

Good post. He and Lendl certainly did seem to hit it off exceptionally well and I don't think Andy expected to lose him as a coach. It's not surprising that it's taking him a bit to get over it. I too hope he can find a good replacement but imo that's going to be pretty tough. Both Andy and Ivan have unusual personalities and it was kind of funny how they meshed so well. I don't think Andy will find another one like him but hopefully he can find one that can give him confidence and help him do well.

 

[JRAJ1988]

I hope Lendl returns, maybe that is a false hope.

At least Agassi or another ex-player who's mental game was detriment to their success because Murray currently looks like he's up the creek without a paddle.

He has the tools to win but the mindset/motivation is questionable...I still think the passion has wained since the Wimbledon victory...he accomplished his dreams right?

 

[tennisfreak]

I hope Lendl returns, maybe that is a false hope.

At least Agassi or another ex-player who's mental game was detriment to their success because Murray currently looks like he's up the creek without a paddle.

He has the tools to win but the mindset/motivation is questionable...I still think the passion has wained since the Wimbledon victory...he accomplished his dreams right?

Pretty much agree. The passion is not there anymore. Maybe he'll get hungry again, but maybe that one Wimbledon win is good enough for him?

He's not getting any younger. If there is still some passion inside him, he needs to find it soon.

 

[Vensai]

I hope he still isn't seriously trying to get John McEnroe as his new coach.

 

[NADALRECORD]

McEnroe could be a good coach, for Wimbledon. Murray has the skills to come forward more.

 

[kiki]

I do also miss Lendl.

And Connors.

And Borg.

And Mc Enroe...

 

[Vensai]

McEnroe could be a good coach, for Wimbledon. Murray has the skills to come forward more.

I just can't see Andy Murray trying to serve and volley all the time on slow grass.

 

[Rozroz]

why did he change string pattern???
this is too weird, and quite an extreme change!

 

[NADALRECORD]

I just can't see Andy Murray trying to serve and volley all the time on slow grass.

I mean he should come forward more (to end the rallies when he's on top). Not 'all the time'.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

and does lendl miss murray ?...

 

[Steve0904]

It's an honest admission, and I'm sure Murray does feel a little lost, but lets be honest. He just lost to a guy in great clay form, and he's really not good enough on clay to be talking about how he feels lost without Lendl without acknowledging that part of it. Lets just point out the huge red elephant in the room. If he has a bad Wimbledon then I can agree.

 

[FedError]

Well after all he did compare Lendl to like having a new girlfriend.

 

[TheMusicLover]

It's an honest admission, and I'm sure Murray does feel a little lost, but lets be honest. He just lost to a guy in great clay form, and he's really not good enough on clay to be talking about how he feels lost without Lendl without acknowledging that part of it. Lets just point out the huge red elephant in the room. If he has a bad Wimbledon then I can agree.

Well said.
I don't think Murray's recent bad performances on clay have anything to do with Lendl not being there anymore - he was never good on the surface anyways.

 

[West Coast Ace]

So after all these yrs on tour he doesn't know what strategy to employ? He still has a team for support.

Lendl (probably) isn't coming back - he stated he wanted to do other things.

And I'm with @TheMusicLover - for all the talk, his game just doesn't translate to clay. He needs surfaces that help the ball get through the court. Even if the grass and hard aren't as fast as days gone by , they're still faster.

 

[Mainad]

It's an honest admission, and I'm sure Murray does feel a little lost, but lets be honest. He just lost to a guy in great clay form, and he's really not good enough on clay to be talking about how he feels lost without Lendl without acknowledging that part of it. Lets just point out the huge red elephant in the room. If he has a bad Wimbledon then I can agree.

Look...it's an obvious fact to anybody that clay is by far Murray's weakest surface but, all the same, let's not fall into the trap of thinking Murray should just lose to any old Tom, Dick or Harry on it! In his previous match, he successfully ground down Almagro, a far superior claycourter to the likes of Giraldo and yet he fell flat on his face the very next day against a guy he beat comfortably in 2 back to back matches on clay only 2 years ago! Now I understand that Giraldo has improved a lot since then but..come on! Murray could only manage 5 games against a guy he previously owned, and on clay to boot? What's that all about? Even Murray knows that was an abysmal performance from him that was well below the way he should and could have played that match. The surface was no excuse!

Murray's 2011 clay season proves that his best clay level is far superior to anything we have seen from him since but is still an indication of what he is capable of when he is seriously motivated and playing at his proper level!

It is his consistency and motivation that is at the heart of his current problems...not having to play on clay!

 

[bluetrain4]

Murray is 27:shock: Time flies.

Note: I just looked it up. He's 26 for a few more days (May 15).

 

[tennisaddict]

Look...it's an obvious fact to anybody that clay is by far Murray's weakest surface but, all the same, let's not fall into the trap of thinking Murray should just lose to any old Tom, Dick or Harry on it! In his previous match, he successfully ground down Almagro, a far superior claycourter to the likes of Giraldo and yet he fell flat on his face the very next day against a guy he beat comfortably in 2 back to back matches on clay only 2 years ago! Now I understand that Giraldo has improved a lot since then but..come on! Murray could only manage 5 games against a guy he previously owned, and on clay to boot? What's that all about? Even Murray knows that was an abysmal performance from him that was well below the way he should and could have played that match. The surface was no excuse!

Murray's 2011 clay season proves that his best clay level is far superior to anything we have seen from him since but is still an indication of what he is capable of when he is seriously motivated and playing at his proper level!

It is his consistency and motivation that is at the heart of his current problems...not having to play on clay!

First of, he won 6-4 in the third set after Almagro choked. Second set he got bread sticked.

5 games against Giraldo shows that he is really at an abysmal low.

If you look at Murray's career accomplishment on clay and make a fair assessment, 2011 was one odd ball.

Fact remains he does not even have a ATP 250 to boot.

For all the claims of a big player, olympic champ - that is a hard pill to swallow.

Guys like Nishikori, Dmitrov who are not clay court specialists are winning clay titles.

Challenger level players like Berlocq are winning multiple clay titles.

Murray fans just need to accept that he is poor in clay and move on till results show otherwise.

 

[Mainad]

First of, he won 6-4 in the third set after Almagro choked. Second set he got bread sticked.

But why would Almagro need to choke against an obviously inferior clay courter like Murray? He didn't choke against Nadal a week ago! Forget the choking excuses and let's just agree that Murray held his nerve and ground him down and if he could do it against Almagro, why not against Giraldo, a qualifier whom he beat comfortably on clay in their last 2 meetings on it only 2 years ago?

5 games against Giraldo shows that he is really at an abysmal low.

Totally agree as I just said and shows how inconsistent Murray has become lately!

If you look at Murray's career accomplishment on clay and make a fair assessment, 2011 was one odd ball.

It's certainly the exception, yes, but it does show what he is capable of on clay.

Fact remains he does not even have a ATP 250 to boot.

I don't think he has ever played a clay 250 or he might have had 1 or 2 small clay titles at least. They might have given him some confidence for tackling the bigger ones. I already said elsewhere that I think he should have played a few more low tier clay events so as to build up his strength and confidence on the surface.

For all the claims of a big player, olympic champ - that is a hard pill to swallow.

Well, he won't be the first multi-Slam champion to fail to perform on clay. Becker never won a clay title either!

Guys like Nishikori, Dmitrov who are not clay court specialists are winning clay titles. Challenger level players like Berlocq are winning multiple clay titles.
Murray fans just need to accept that he is poor in clay and move on till results show otherwise.

Yes, but none of those players you mention have gone deep into any clay Masters or Roland Garros yet, have they? Murray has made semis at all of them. That proves that he is well capable of winning a few clay 250s if he ever bothered to play any. He has only ever shown interest in the bigger events apart from an occasional showing in Barcelona a few years back.

 

[rainingaces]

Lendl is smart he knew after wimbledon this guy was super lucky now it's all down hill from here. Murray's next coach will be a big failure.

But why would Almagro need to choke against an obviously inferior clay courter like Murray? He didn't choke against Nadal a week ago! Forget the choking excuses and let's just agree that Murray held his nerve and ground him down and if he could do it against Almagro, why not against Giraldo, a qualifier whom he beat comfortably on clay in their last 2 meetings on it only 2 years ago?

He was injured, being a Murray fan you missed that.

 

[Mainad]

Lendl is smart he knew after wimbledon this guy was super lucky now it's all down hill from here. Murray's next coach will be a big failure.

Lol...he spent 2 years coaching a guy who merely got 'lucky'? Doesn't say much for Lendl and his supposed coaching ability then, does it?

He was injured, being a Murray fan you missed that.

Well, of course, he was injured. Every single opponent Murray has ever beaten is because they were injured. Being a Murray-hater you would never fail to try and convince yourself of that.