The pair split in March 2014, but it was with Lendl by his side that Murray won his two Grand Slam titles – the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013 – and Murray said the 56-year-old, a victor of eight Slams between 1984 and 1990, offers important experience of major events. “It’s not about John and I, it’s about Andy trying to win”.
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Heeding the advice of his coach Ivan Lendl, who had also endured a long wait to claim his first major before winning multiple titles, Murray let rip and routed Federer in the final.
Murray was being interviewed on court moments after his convincing straight sets victory against the Canadian. “I think that’s the thing I want to avoid the most”. “Mentally, I had one of my best matches in my history and my career”. But there is other people that go into it, as well. I have a great opportunity on Sunday.
“There’s no guarantees that I’ll win on Sunday but obviously I wanted to work with Ivan again to try to help me win these events. My whole team’s responsible for that”.
American legend and six-time Wimbledon champion Billie Jean King believes Lendl – a victor of eight majors himself – helps Murray control his temper on court, something the Scot often struggles with. “So I’ll make sure I enjoy this one tonight, for sure”.
“I think he’s so talented, he’s got soft hands, he can do anything, he’s great about women”. It was a different fall for me than I’ve ever had.
“But Lendl is doing the right thing, Lendl doesn’t look at him at all, or if he looks to Lendl, Lendl is talking to somebody else”. Raonic has eight career titles, but none of them have come on grass. You have to make it, you have to stay on the court.
“And when Murray decides to stay on the court, he’s unbelievable”. He is brilliant, his mind…
“This is my 11th Grand Slam final and maybe I’m now more excited than I was when I was younger. I believe I am, but I’ll know more tomorrow when I wake up”.
Murray beat Raonic on grass three weeks ago in the Queen’s Club final after he was trailing the Canadian by a set and a break.
After that clash, Raonic expressed the hope he would get another shot at Murray in the Wimbledon final, and for the first time since 1988 the finalists from Queen’s will line up on the second Sunday at the All England Club.
Raonic said McEnroe has urged him to ” try to get it out of you on court and leave it all out there”, and the approach has paid off.
“There was a significant point for me coming back from two sets to love in the fourth round (against David Goffin)”. He hadn’t lost serve the whole week. And that might have played a role Friday as Federer appeared to run out of gas. Definitely, he can. The fact that probably his biggest rival, Novak (Djokovic), is not in the draw anymore definitely helps for him.
“This one’s going to sting”, said Raonic, who recently brought John McEnroe aboard as a coaching consultant.
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Andy Murray and Milos Raonic are on serve at the first changeover in the Wimbledon final. At 6-5, he’s known as one of the fastest servers in the game, if not the fastest, recording speeds of more than 140 miles per hour. “Hopefully I’ll come out firing”. “So that’s why I feel that he can do it”.
