Ivan Lendl has Andy Murray laughing all the way to Wimbo glory, says Jonas Bjorkman
Czech super coach helps Brit relax with fun side off the court
IVAN LENDL has got Andy Murray laughing all the way to the Wimbledon title.
Super coach Lendl, 56, is known for his stony-faced demeanour when watching the Scot on court.
But it is the lesser-seen side to the Czech’s character which is the secret to his success with Murray, according to the world No2’s former coach Jonas Bjorkman.
The Swede worked with Murray for nine months last year - largely filling in for the pregnant Amelie Mauresmo - before Lendl took over again last month.
And Bjorkman, 44, explained: “Ivan has a good approach with Andy and can bring a lot from his own career.
“But he also has a good, fun side off the court.
“With Ivan, it is not only the serious stuff when it is the matches, he is very easy-going off the court and behind the scenes as well.
“All in all, it is a good combo with him and Andy.
“It is always important to have the right personalities.
“You spend so much time together, you have got to have fun.
“Beside the matches you play and the practise sessions, everything in between is very important - and that seems to work extremely well between them.”
Murray first worked with Lendl from 2011 to 2014 - the period in which he won his only two Grand Slams to date.
And Bjorkman, who reached the Wimbledon semi-final ten years ago, admitted: “When it turned out that he went back with Ivan, I was not surprised in a way because they had great success in the past.
“Andy is so professional, he wants to succeed in all of his goals.
“I think he really wants to do all he can to win a few more majors, which I think he is looking good to have.”
That third major could well come here on Sunday, with Murray the overwhelming favourite to go all the way after Novak Djokovic lost in the third round.
And Bjorkman added: “At his level, Andy is almost 100 per cent perfect.
“The good sign is that he has been serving very solid, winning a lot of free points and serving big on the important points when he is under pressure.
“That is always a key in the big matches.
“If you look back 12 months, Novak and Andy have been the two guys who have been the most consistent and playing the best tennis overall.
“So there is no doubt when Novak lost, Andy became the big favourite to win it purely on the past results and the consistency he has had this past year."
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