Ivan Lendl was there for extra 1-2% Andy Murray needed in big games, he'll bring some calm to what Brit wants to achieve: Barry Cowan
Tennis analyst and former player Barry Cowan recently gave his thoughts on Andy Murray reuniting with former coach Ivan Lendl. Cowan believes Lendl's role in Murray's team will be different this time around, since the Brit is at a different stage in his career.
Former World No. 1 Andy Murray recently announced that he will be reuniting with eight-time Major winner Ivan Lendl. The Brit won the 2012 US Open and 2013 Wimbledon in emphatic fashion under Lendl's tutelage. However, the duo parted ways in 2014.
Murray then hired Lendl once again in the middle of the 2016 season, following which he won his third Major title at Wimbledon. The Brit also went on to rise to the No. 1 spot with the Czech in his corner. Their partnership came to an abrupt end for the second time in 2017.
Murray and Lendl both happen to be greats of the game, so their reunion was always going to generate a lot of interest in the tennis community. Against that background, former tennis pro Barry Cowan was asked to shed some light on the dynamic between the two.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Cowan reminisced about the time Murray first joined forces with Lendl in 2012. The tennis analyst claimed that the former World No. 1 had hired Lendl back then for "the extra one, two percent" that he needed in order to win big titles.
He, however, asserted in the same breath that the 34-year-old has different requirements from a coach at present.
"When he first hired Lendl, it was very smart. Lendl was there for the extra 1-2% he needed in the bigger games," Cowan said to Sky Sports.
"The situation is different now, he is at a totally different stage in his career. I think Lendl will bring a little more calm to what Andy Murray wants to achieve," he added.
During the interaction, Cowan also disclosed how he had correctly predicted that the three-time Major winner would be adding a familiar face to his camp.
"I actually thought Andy Murray's next coach would be someone he knew, someone he was comfortable with," Cowan remarked. "Whenever he appointed a new coach, he always paid attention to the smallest details."
Andy Murray will look to turn his season around at Indian Wells next week
Ever since making his comeback from hip surgery, Andy Murray has tried his best to return to the top of the game. However, his comeback has had more than a few speed bumps.
The three-time Major winner has had some promising results this season which have been interspersed with disappointing losses.
The Brit will next feature at the Indian Wells Masters, having received a wildcard from the organizers. Indian Wells is the only hardcourt Masters 1000 event Murray has yet to win.