Andy Murray has decided to split with his longtime coach Ivan Lendl. The decision comes after a difficult season for Murray culminated in a dire loss to Alex de Minaur at the Paris Masters after leading 5-2 and match point in the third set.
“Ivan has been by my side at the biggest moments in my career and I can’t thank him enough for all that he’s helped me achieve,” said Murray in a statement. “ He’s a unique character, who understands what it takes to win and I’ve learned an awful lot over the years from him.”
Murray has not won consecutive matches on the ATP Tour since early March and he has lost five of his last six matches since the North American hard-court swing. After his defeat in Paris, Murray said he was not enjoying himself on-court.
“I’m not really enjoying it just now in terms of how I feel on the court and how I’m playing,” Murray said. “The last five, six months haven’t been that enjoyable, so I need to try to find some of that enjoyment back because playing a match like that there’s not much positivity there.
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“When I play a good point, I’m not really getting behind myself and then, in the important moments, that will to win and fight that has always been quite a big, big part of my game …”
Lendl and Murray’s partnership dates back to 2011, when Murray hired the Czech former world No 1 at a time when his first grand-slam title remained elusive. Their partnership would yield his first two grand-slam titles, including his first Wimbledon 2013. After splitting in 2014, they reunited in 2016 and Murray clinched his second Wimbledon title.
Last March, Lendl and Murray reunited as Murray tried to re-establish himself as a top player following his hip surgeries. However, Lendl has not been keen to travel and, although Lendl has been present at the grand-slam tournaments, they have spent minimal time together in training this year. During the matches Lendl did attend, he appeared to offer little help even though the coaching rules have recently relaxed.
“I will look back with some great memories of the time Andy and I worked together. He’s as hard a worker as there is and the sport is better because of him. I wish him only the best in the years to come,” said Lendl.
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Murray will continue to work with the rest of his current team, with Mark Hilton, one of the LTA’s national coaches, and doubles player Jonny O’Mara accompanying Murray around the tour.
