Andy Murray won a record fifth title at Queen’s as the Scot battled back from a set and a break down to beat Canada’s Milos Raonic.
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Lendl, an eight-time Grand Slam victor, has returned to working with Murray two years after the United States-based Czech called time on a successful spell that saw the Scot win two Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal.
The Canadian blasted his way to the first-set tiebreak before Murray recovered to win 6-7 6-4 6-3.
Lendl took a bathroom break after Murray’s 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 win over the big- serving Raonic who will be a major threat at Wimbledon now he has added former great John McEnroe to his own coaching team.
But the world number two had to dig deep to remain on course for a record fifth Queen ” s crown after a lacklustre first two sets against an inexperienced 21-year-old ranked 83 places below him.
A brilliant backhand return sealed one break back before Raonic hit a forehand into the net for a second, and in a blink of an eye Murray had taken the set 6-4 to force a decider.
Murray, 29, becomes the first man to win five titles at the tournament, which was established in 1890.
“He was definitely happy with this week because of the way that I fought, the way that I played in the big moments and the preparation, getting five matches when I had literally zero preparation for this event”.
But the Scot’s mental fortitude can never be questioned and he reeled off five games in a row – breaking the previously impregnable Raonic serve twice in the process, including with a sublime return victor.
The British number one appears in good shape for Wimbledon which starts on June 27, but as we all know they’ll be a certain Novak Djokovic to overcome if Murray is to complete a grass court double.
Raonic’s first serve subsequently dropped while Murray refound his first delivery and didn’t face a break point in the entire third set. I don’t think anybody else is really going to discuss it too much in the locker room.
Although Murray has been in numerous finals, he has only won a single Grand Slam title- Wimbledon 2013.
McEnroe has jumped on board with the powerful but sometimes wooden Raonic, and already seems to have the 25-year-old moving more fluently. “I’m aware he’s achieved way, way more than me”.
“It’s a tournament that obviously means a lot to me”, Murray said.
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“The day we were going to practice with Andy [on Monday], that was supposed to be the first day Ivan was here”, Raonic told a press conference after booking his place in Sunday’s final at Queen’s Club against the world No.2.
