Ivan Lendl, one of the greatest champions in tennis history, is ready to make his first move into coaching and already has made tentative inquiries as to whether British star Andy Murray would be keen on hiring him, The (London) Times reported Monday.
Lendl witnessed Murray's 6-1, 7-5 defeat by Alex Bogomolov Jr. in the first round of the Sony Ericsson Open on Friday in Key Biscayne, Fla., the British No. 1's fourth successive setback during which time he has lost nine consecutive sets and, for the first time, lost consecutive matches to two players outside the world's top 100.
After 12 years out of the game, 51-year-old Lendl's zest for tennis has been reinvigorated by a succession of appearances on the ATP Champions Tour and in exhibition events, the British newspaper reported.
Lendl lost in the first four of his Grand Slam final appearances, so he has been where world No. 5 Murray is now, fretting over his game and knowing he has the talent, but worried about how it may eventually fit into place.
Lendl and Murray are near neighbors. The Scot has an apartment on the Miami seafront, and the man who won 94 singles titles and spent 270 weeks at No. 1 in the world has his Champions Academy at the Boulevard Village and Tennis Club at nearby Vero Beach.
According to the report, a preliminary conversation has already taken place between the pair, but nothing of serious consequence has yet been discussed.
