WIMBLEDON 2016
Andy Murray and his coaching team comply. It’s the Czech’s way or the high way and it’s a formula that has guided the Scot to two Grand Slam wins going into today’s final against Milos Raonic.
Who just happens to be coached by Lendl’s one-time rival John McEnroe, whom he faced in the finals of the French and US Opens in 1984.
Lendl won in Paris, Supermac in New York, so these two old rivals add an interesting sub-plot to what will be a fascinating final, with Murray playing in his 11th – the most ever achieved by Brit – and the Canadian experiencing it for the first time in his career.
Or so you’d think. Unsurprisingly, Lendl bluntly disregards the matter, saying: “It’s a non-issue, not worth the words or the paper.”
Whatever happens, Lendl will sit in his usual seat at the end of the front row of the Player’s Box and his face will be impossible to read.
Murray’s parents, wife and backroom team might all be jumping up and down, living and breathing every point.
But Lendl will remain impassive. It’s just the way he is and Murray loves that. Yesterday the No. 2 insisted that the Czech’s lack of bulls*** is one of the his best qualities.
Lend l do e sn’ t disagree and said: “I don’t beat around the bush, you can see it on the court. Why say ‘ Hey Finn ( Murray’s practice partner, Finn Bass) could you move to the other side?’ Just say ‘other side’ because we’ve done it so many times. Why use 50 words when you can use two? I don’t see any point in that.
“During the matches you are not helpless in the box. We sit there and discuss what is happening. We discuss what we need to work on, what’s going well.
“When I’m