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4/3/11 8:23 PM | Johan Lindahl
Jimmy Connors is not volunteering to give up a comfortable lifestyle in California to hit the road on the ATP again. But the former legend does have some ideas from the sidelines as to how slumping Andy Murray can fix his game.
The Scot is assumed to be in the search for a high-profile coach after poor showings this season and last after losing Australian Open finals. Murray is due to start the clay season within days and the British betting is that he might have found a mentor by that time.
Meanwhile, the 58-year-old Connors told London's Mail on Sunday that he has a few ideas for the Scots player's game. "At times, he's proved he can beat the best, but the story for me is how he handles what happens next. What does he think he needs to change?"
"Andy's still a kid, and his best years are in front of him, even though he has already been in the final of the US Open, and two finals at the Australian Open," said Connors. "But it's important for Andy to understand that you have to grasp - grab - those chances when they come as there's no knowing when they come around again. If you don't take advantage of them, before you know it your time has run out.
"I began watching his Australian Open final against Djokovic, but I admit I turned off the television. A few things I saw made me think the match was over in the first five or six games..."
Connors underwent a brief coaching stint several seasons ago with Andy Roddick, but that partnership broke up, likely due to the Connors aversion to 25 weeks of tennis travel per year.
Murray is trying to recover form after losing in American Masters events in opening matches to Donald Young and Alex Bogomolov.
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no need for a new coach, murray is climbing in the rankings :P
croc , 4/4/11 5:48 PM
oi croc, stop being so cheeky...... ;)
also, however, good news is Andy has about 2 points to defend in clay court season, whereas your Sod has millions ;)
deuce , 4/4/11 7:01 PM
Deuce: only just caught up with this thread. I loved that Andy pulled off that coup on April lst. But how much longer is he going to dither over the coaching issue. I gather he is turning to Cahill and Groeneveld (courtesy of Addidas) for the time being. It is surely a case of too many cooks spoil the broth. It puts me in mind of people who consult doctor after doctor until they get the answer they want to hear.
I was reflecting the other day that what both Rafa and Nole have in common is they both have a stable long term relationship with their coaches who are also their mentors. Nole's ill advised experiment taking on Todd Martin caused havoc to his game and his mind-set but Vadya has more than got him back on track lol.
I've never been quite sure exactly how influential mummy Judy is in terms of coaching but I guess her presence is a potential cause of conflict with any professional coach Andy hires and might well limit the pool of people he can consider.
I cant help feeling that players with an abundance of natural talent run a greater risk of their game being wrecked if a coach tampers with their game. And look how long Roger played without a full time coach - maintaining he relied on his instincts during a match - not
what a coach can tell him. If his Miami SF is anything to go by Annacone has not been the answer to reviving his career. I wonder when we can expect the announcement of a split :-)
ed251137 , 4/7/11 5:25 PM
ed, I'll probably be proved completely wrong.... but I think that nothing'll happen until after Wimbledon. Why, because we've already had enough of a clay court input from Corretja and the fact that Andy's given him the push just b4 clay court season, says it all ;) As for grass, Andy doesn't need a coach, he's one of the few players who is a total "natural" on grass. Also can u imagine the media hype if a coach was appointed round about Wimbledon. Yuk!
Read Simon Reed on eurosport on the coaching issue. It's interesting and one or two very unconsciously funny lines lines :)
deuce , 4/7/11 5:55 PM
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ed, this is the place to chat about Andy! Yes, I do feel a lot more optimistic now he's got rid of Corretja. All that man ever did, I think anyway, was to wreck Andy's forehand in order to get Andy to try to add topspin it for the clay season.
Andy needs someone to 1) encourage him to go for the net, he really has a natural talent for it, as Tracy Austin pointed out about a hundred years ago! This is how he gets more aggressive and wins matches quickly.
2) use that wonderful back down the line. Where's that gone?
3) to ignore the media
4) pinch Nole's self-confidence pills ;)
Did u c Andy's tweet on April 1st? Went like this "Am appointing Ross Hutchens as my coach. I feel I need another 'yes man' around me." All cannot be lost for someone with such a self-deprecating sense of humour! Upset Sky as well. Tee hee.
deuce , 4/4/11 5:25 PM