On This Day in 2011 – Andy Murray teams up with Czech master Ivan Lendl

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Ivan Lendl and Andy Murray

Andy Murray appointed former world number one Ivan Lendl as his full-time coach on this day in 2011.

The 24-year-old British number one was still searching for his first major title at the time.

Murray said: “Ivan’s impact on the game is unquestionable and he brings experience and knowledge that few others have, particularly in major tournaments.”

London Olympic Games – Day 9
Andy Murray linked up with Ivan Lendl and won Olympic gold at London 2012 just over seven months later (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Czech-American great Lendl, the winner of eight grand slam titles, started work immediately as Murray prepared for what would be a momentous 2012 season.

“I am really excited to have the opportunity to work with Andy,” said Lendl, who won 94 ATP Tour titles across a 16-year career between 1978 and 1994.

“He is a unique talent and I look forward to trying to help him reach his goals.”

Murray did just that as he became the first British man to win Olympic singles tennis gold in 104 years at London 2012.

Wimbledon 2017 – Day Four – The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Murray and coach Lendl during a training session at Wimbledon (Steven Paston/PA)

The Scot then defeated Novak Djokovic in five sets at the 2012 US Open a month later to become the first British man to win a Grand Slam final since Fred Perry in 1936.

Murray became the second player in the Open era, after Lendl, to have lost their first four Grand Slam finals before winning the fifth.

Wimbledon glory came the next summer as Murray, runner-up 12 months earlier, beat Djokovic in straight sets to emulate Perry’s 1936 triumph on the grass courts of SW19.

Wimbledon 2016 – Day Thirteen – The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Murray won the Wimbledon men’s singles title in 2013 and 2016 when working with Lendl (Adam Davy/PA)

It was announced on March 19, 2014, that Lendl and Murray would be ending their two-year coaching partnership.

Lendl rejoined Murray’s coaching team on June 12, 2016, and the Scot won a second Wimbledon title, another Olympic singles gold and his first ATP World Tour finals to end the year as world number one.

The pair split for a second time by “mutual agreement” on November 17, 2017.

Murray, now 33, has twice undergone hip surgery in the intervening years and has been unable to add to his three Grand Slam titles.

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Andy Murray

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