During a media call to promote the 2014 PowerShares Series tennis tour, eight-time major champion Ivan Lendl discussed his coaching partnership with Andy Murray. 

According to Lendl, the chemistry between a coach and a player matters as much as the specific insights that the coach can add to the player’s game. “We shared that both of us lost a few majors before we won the first one,” he reflected, “and we understood each other with that quite well.  I could understand how he was feeling (and) how frustrating it is.” 

For this reason, he felt especially proud of his pupil’s achievement last summer.  Murray became the first British man in 77 years to win his home major at Wimbledon as Lendl watched from his Centre Court box.  “I was very pleased for him,” said his coach, who reached two Wimbledon finals but never claimed the title. “I knew how much pressure Andy went through in 2012 playing Roger (Federer), and I was also aware of how much pressure there was in 2013, how much he wanted to win, how hard he worked for it, and what obstacles he had to overcome.”

Despite the similarities between them, traveling with Murray has shown Lendl the differences between his era and the current era in men’s tennis. “You learn how much the game has changed and how much more complete players they are than the players in the past,” he said. “You see how everybody trains and how they prepare.  But also you confirm your beliefs in how things are done and what is the best way to go about preparation and competition.”

Murray’s performance at the Australian Open marked a solid step forward from back surgery in Lendl’s view, his quarterfinal loss to Federer notwithstanding.  “I think it was realistic what he achieved,” Lendl assessed. “I think he was very close to doing better. I wish he had done better at the beginning of the fourth set (in the Federer loss).  Anything could have happened after he saved match point when Roger was serving for the match. If Andy had gotten ahead in the fourth, I think he had an excellent chance of winning, but unfortunately he got behind.”

Lendl’s calm patience and clear-eyed realism should continue to serve Murray well as he regains his rhythm after surgery.