Lendl/Murray - Is It Working?

First topic message reminder :

A week shy of 6 months since Andy Murray appointed Ivan Lendl as his full time coach. At the time I could recall that 6 months would be sufficient time to assess any significant changes in Murray's game or results. So far this year his match record is 22-7. For me what is concerning are the stats.

59% First serves in. Only Fish and Tipsarevic boast a weaker %.
72% Points won on 1st serve. The worst in the top 10.
53% Points won on 2nd serve. Tsonga and Fish boast slightly worse.
81% Service games won. Only Fish is worse off.

It is a concern that these stats don't even put him in the top 5 bracket.

Stats aside what changes have we seen in Andy's play that have been positive? What has been a step forward in his play? Honestly? I can't see anything that leaps out an improvement. I guess he backs and uses the FH more, but being such a weaker part of Andy's game I have been surprised by Murray's persistence to use it. Practice makes perfect, but not in a matchplay situation. The Berd has had Andy's number now and I think also Delpo may start to get the better of him should they meet.

It has been well documented of Lendl's absence during tournaments when Andy plays. Not sure what message this sends out. Andy has a close knit team and for Lendl not to feature quite prominently is another concern for me. It questions how much input Lendl is really having.

Andy is now 25 and the next four years are critical in the success of Andy's career. Andy last year had his best year to date and that was without a coach. I think if Andy's slump continues through the season I think he may start to have serious doubts whether Lendl was the best choice. I wonder if Andy and Lendl are getting along and whether this arrangement is working. My feeling is that come end of the season that Andy and Lendl will part ways.

What do you guys think?

Tom_____ wrote:Did anyone ever re-visit this towards the end of last year LK? Seems to me it certainly was too early to Question Lendl's involvement at the time.

I did with this

https://www.606v2.com/t34754-murray-doubter-proven-wrong-gladly

legendkillarV2 wrote:

Tom_____ wrote:Did anyone ever re-visit this towards the end of last year LK? Seems to me it certainly was too early to Question Lendl's involvement at the time.

I did with this

https://www.606v2.com/t34754-murray-doubter-proven-wrong-gladly

Thanks, been away a while

No, it's obviously failing.

Lk, still a little Xmas cheer residual?

I love Murray's comments after the Brisbabe final. His fans have been waiting for a long time to hear him committed to a more aggressive approach:

"I think today was a good example of some of the stuff I worked on in previous years or matches," Murray said.

"Like today I got off to not the best start and he was playing very aggressive, and I think by the end of the first set I had turned the tables and I was the one making him do a lot of running.

"I think that's something that not just in the off-season I worked on... it's a change of mentality really, and that doesn't happen in a few weeks. It's taken time to believe that that's the right thing to do, to be aggressive.

"That was what I worked on in December, and I worked on it for the majority of last year as well. Did it well today."