Andy Murray - the coach

 Andy Murray- the coach

Now that Andy Murray's vintage days as two- time Wimbledon champion have now passed into the illustrious history books, it would have been safe to assume that memories of his greatness will always be fondly preserved. Besides, Britain had to wait several lifetimes before acknowledging Murray's special and natural talent. We'd more or less given up any hope of re-capturing that iconic moment at SW19 but good things happen to those who wait patiently and never stop believing. 

It had been over 75 years since Britain last acclaimed a men's singles champion at Wimbledon so the man from Dunblane, Scotland deserves every credit. The years have been long and embarrassing at times. But our patience was rewarded in both the Olympic year of 2012 and not once but twice as richly deserved Wimbledon champion. So Murray drove himself to the limit of his renowned endurance and just gritted his teeth. He lifted the famous Wimbledon trophy, showing it off unashamedly and never forgetting the sterling contribution that his mum Judy had made in his maturity and development as a player.

But now Murray's now highly regarded career on the major tennis courts of the world is glorious history. Over the weekend, Murray announced his intention of becoming a coach to one of the greatest modern- day tennis stars of the global community. It was a decision that may have been reached with the heaviest of hearts since Murray must have gone throughout his entire playing career without ever considering the prospect of guiding, encouraging or inspiring his colleagues in later life. 

Now Murray is the official coach to his greatest rival but, still, closest friend Novak Djokovic. Now this seems the unlikeliest of partnerships because both men were dedicated to winning Grand Slams and accumulating so much prize money into the bargain that Murray, as a coach, almost felt like wishful thinking. But the Scotsman has now accepted that his dancing days as a fabulous sportsman and ambassador were something to be treasured and realistically belonged to another golden age. 

After a career often blighted and ruined by incessant injuries, you'd have been forgiven for thinking that Murray would just throw his racket into a nearby bin and never swing another cross court volley, mesmerising forehand winner or stunning backhand. The back problems and various, debilitating niggles, strains and bodily stresses began to mount up quite disturbingly and the temptation to pack it all in always seemed an enticing one. 

But Murray summoned all of those fighting qualities that we've all come to know and love. Murray had stubbornness, gutsy defiance, bucketloads of perseverance, courage in spades and remembered that no match was ever lost until that final, thrilling five set epic. The boy from Dunblane had already experienced some of life's toughest and most harrowing of ordeals. Murray saw all the horrors of a barbaric attack from a vile murderer who terrorised a local school and left a trail of carnage and destruction behind him. So he became conditioned to the harder and unsavoury side of life and soldiered on bravely. 

The boy served his apprenticeship as a fledgling tennis player and worked his way through the youth ranks. He struggled to bury the past at first but then emerged triumphantly in both 2013 and then three years later in 2016. We could barely have imagined that somehow,  from the depths of disaster, one British tennis player could so dramatically transform the fortunes of British tennis. Fred Perry had done the trick back in the 1930s but that was way back in TV's infancy and nobody saw it apart from the Centre Court gathering present at the time. 

Yesterday, the talk among tennis aficionados was of Andy Murray as the motivational guru, the influential coaching figure, the man who made others tick and function properly. What we weren't expecting was an Andy Murray instilling shrewd advice into a man who probably thinks he's unbeatable anyway. Novak Djokovic is not a man to be argued with nor any more likely to respond to those who could only have dreamt of emulating the Serbian's colossal achievements. He does things his way and 

Murray of course was the man who had to follow the intelligent guidance of one Ivan Lendl. Now Lendl was never the most emotional and demonstrative of men and lost a succession of Wimbledon Finals because he was just unlucky on grass. But Murray responded to Lendl and invariably got the most out of the Scot. Lendl instilled bloody-minded aggression and bullish determination into Murray's mind and Murray bust a gut to prove to the world that he was no submissive defeatist with nothing more to give when it mattered. Murray won Wimbledon twice because he was driven, almost possessed at times, pumped up to the highest degree and just devil may care. He had the right kind of attitude, though.  

Now though Murray is the figure behind the scenes and Djokovic will receive the full benefit of Murray's ruthless tongue although the Serb may believe this to be unnecessary. Djokovic is a fiercely independent spirit who follows his instincts rather than others. During Covid 19, Djokovic was adamant in his refusal to take the vaccines before the Australian Open. He was the one who took a militant stand when those who knew him best should have been much firmer with him. 

So it is now Murray's responsibility to take Djokovic under his wing and ram some home truths into the sassy and feisty Serb. Recently, some of us may have noticed a worrying arrogance about the man who has now dominated the Grand Slam era with so many victories that we may have lost count. There is a sense of vanity and ego about him that manifests itself in aggressive fist -pumping, sneering at hecklers in the crowd and simply snarling with a disdainful growl at the now growing list of critics. 

But there is something of an indefinable quality about Murray that once blossomed on Centre Court. Murray has a no nonsense, hard- as- nails belligerence about him that must come with all the right recommendations from both fellow coaches and players in the current generation. Murray is still softly spoken but always positive, never negative, ready to take on the world. This is Murray's ultimate challenge because both men are completely at ease with each other, hearteningly familiar with every stroke and knowing everything there is to know about their body language. 

The epic images of Murray's legendary win over Djokovic in 2013 followed by another Wimbledon Final winning trophy against Canadian Milos Raonic three years later still leaves a warm glow in the hearts of his eternally admiring followers. And now Murray is the inspirational coach, the one who cracks the whip, who watches and studies all of Djokovic's mannerisms, his sometimes moody and temperamental outbursts with an admirable tolerance and forbearance that could be vitally important in their relationship on court. 

This is the next chapter in the career of Andy Murray, a man in complete control of his feelings while trying desperately to hold onto those of his buddy, buddy contemporary. It is a fascinating combination, a friendship that could be tested to the full. So let's hear it for Andy Murray the coach, coaxing from the sidelines, the man with the track suit top equipped with the kind of knowledge that Djokovic may be in need of even if he doesn't think he does. Tennis looks forward to its new power behind the throne.