Murray breaks up with Lendl again
Andy MurrAy and Ivan Lendl last night broke up their partnership for the second and — most likely — final time.
Out of the blue, Murray announced that the two would go their separate ways after a year in which their deal seemed to be petering out, regardless of the hip problems that have kept the 30-year-old Scot out of action since Wimbledon.
They had seen each other only sporadically this season and hardly at all since Wimbledon.
They first split in March 2014 but re-formed not long before Murray won his second Wimbledon in 2016. The partnership has spawned a number of imitations and the era of the so-called supercoach. Their success can hardly be denied, as it was while they were together that Murray took all three of his Grand Slam titles — not to mention his two Olympic golds.
Murray said: ‘I’m thankful to Ivan for all his help and guidance over the years, we’ve had great success and learned a lot as a team. My focus now is on getting ready for Australia with the team I have in place and getting back to competing.’
Lendl said: ‘I wish Andy well going forward. We had a great run and a lot of fun.’
Murray’s ongoing injury issues do not appear to be a direct reason for the separation as he approaches what is likely to be the final segment of his career. Lendl has a busy life and has become increasingly involved with his part-time junior development work at the united States Tennis Association.
The split will not alter Murray’s immediate plans to do some warm-weather training in Miami with the intention of coming back in Australia at the start of January. For now at least, former British davis Cup player Jamie delgado will be in sole charge of the coaching.
Murray took the adventurous step of employing Lendl at the beginning of 2012 and within nine months had won gold at the London Olympics and broken his Grand Slam duck at the uS Open. The following summer in 2013 he won his first Wimbledon before they first split in 2014.
Lendl, who has five children and a serious golf habit, is a reluctant flier who does not enjoy travel in general, and will not miss that aspect of the job.
Murray came back last week to play an exhibition match against roger Federer, although it was clear he is still far from rid of the chronic hip problems that have plagued him since making the French Open quarter-finals.
After losing 6-3, 3-6 (10-6), Murray said he ‘hoped’ to return to competition at the Brisbane International in January.
Meanwhile, Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares qualified for today’s semi-finals when they beat world no 1 pair Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo 6-2, 6-4. They will play defending champions John Peers and Henri Kontinen.
In today’s singles semi-finals roger Federer will meet david Goffin while tonight Grigor dimitrov takes on Jack Sock.