MURRAY MACLASH
No high fives with legend McEnroe today ... because he’s training Andy’s opponent
ANDY MURRAY will not exactly be sworn enemies with his lifelong hero John McEnroe today.
But whatever the outcome of this afternoon’s final, there will be no high fives exchanged with the American legend at the end of the match.
When the Scot lifted the Wimbledon trophy for the first time in 2013, he leaned towards ESPN’s commentary booth and slapped the hand of McEnroe en route to the players’ box.
Mac will be back in that same booth this afternoon, calling the final between Murray and Milos Raonic.
But, given the fact he has spent the last three weeks coaching the Canadian, there is little chance he willll join in any celebrations with the Britrit No.1 this time round.
“Yes, I remember thee high five with John,” said Murray,y, ahead of his 11th Grand Slam final.nal.
He has won just two wo of his previous 10 and goes into to this one knowing he needs to show how more of a ruthless streak againstainst the big-serving Canadian.
Murray added: “This is the first time in a long time that Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer have not been in a Slam final.
“But no doubt Milos will be a very tough h opponent. After all, he e beat Roger on Centree Court to get there.
“Milos returns well and nd is good off the ground, but it’s pretty obvious he has one of the best serves out there, so my returning will be key. “I’ve always been a good returner since my junior days. “However well I return, opportunities will probably be few and far between and I need to be ruthless. That’s something I speak to Ivan Lendl about it. “It’s not as though none of my other coaches wanted me to do that,hat, but its it’ss something he has always made e me aware of and been conscious cious of. “Taking my chances andd not letting up on opponents s is something I did well when n we worked together in the e past, and we’ve started d pretty well this time around. d. “Let’s Lets hope I can f finish the he job.” Murray kno knows he needsd to start convertingconve more of his final appearancesappearan into final victories. He said: “SomeoneS said to me recently, ‘ You’v You’ve been in so many Slam finals, but you you’ve only won two’. “All I can do is keep trying to get myself in positionposit to win again. “I don’t th think it’s a coincidence that I w won my two Slams with Ivan a as my coach. I, obviously, had the best years of my care career with him. ““I wanted to work with Iv Ivan again to try to help m me win these events – that’s the goal. “He’s not on top of you all of the time. But when it’s time to work, h he is there and he w works really hard. I trust h him as a person. He will never lie to you or bulls*** you and it’s not always that easy to find somebody like that.” The pair reunited just before the Aegon Championships at Queen’s, which Murray won for a record fifth time to get his grass court season off to a fine start. Murray said: “I do feel there’s a benefit already. Over the next few months and at the end of the year when I get time to train a and work ono things away from the c court is when I’ll start to make b bigge bigger gains hopefully in my gam g game. “But just having him a ar around has been positive. T The information I get f from him, the p psychological help, be being able to chat at the these events, before the big m matches, makes a diff difference.” Murray opted to watch previous clashes with Raonic yesterday rather than the DVD of his 2013 triumph. He said: “I haven’t watched the tape much in the last couple of years, to be honest. “I have the trophy in my house so I see that.” When he gets home this evening, he hopes to have another of those 22in replica trophies under his arm to put alongside that one.