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Judy Murray: I would love to have given it a go as a player Judy Murray: I would love to have given it a go as a player
(35 minutes later)
I really don’t know how I will feel,” Judy Murray says as she tries to imagine her emotions when watching her son begin the defence of his Wimbledon title next week. Andy Murray will enter the tournament with a new coach, Amélie Mauresmo, after a year in which he has had to recover from a back operation while also adjusting to the damaging loss of Ivan Lendl. His former coach, having inspired Murray to two grand slam titles after so many near misses, ended their productive partnership in March.I really don’t know how I will feel,” Judy Murray says as she tries to imagine her emotions when watching her son begin the defence of his Wimbledon title next week. Andy Murray will enter the tournament with a new coach, Amélie Mauresmo, after a year in which he has had to recover from a back operation while also adjusting to the damaging loss of Ivan Lendl. His former coach, having inspired Murray to two grand slam titles after so many near misses, ended their productive partnership in March.
“I have no idea how Andy’s going to feel either,” his mother says. “It’s another new experience for him. He’s never defended a Wimbledon title so this is strange territory. But Andy loves Wimbledon. He’s had immense pressure but always performed really well. I think he’ll do the same this year.”“I have no idea how Andy’s going to feel either,” his mother says. “It’s another new experience for him. He’s never defended a Wimbledon title so this is strange territory. But Andy loves Wimbledon. He’s had immense pressure but always performed really well. I think he’ll do the same this year.”
Judy Murray has become an increasingly significant presence in British tennis, which includes her role as the captain of the women’s Federation Cup team, but the achievement of last year’s Wimbledon still lingers. “It was such a special and historical moment when Andy won. I just felt huge relief that he’d managed to do it – especially after coming so close the year before. Now, it’s the parent thing, isn’t it? You just want everything to be right for your kids even if you can’t do anything about it.”Judy Murray has become an increasingly significant presence in British tennis, which includes her role as the captain of the women’s Federation Cup team, but the achievement of last year’s Wimbledon still lingers. “It was such a special and historical moment when Andy won. I just felt huge relief that he’d managed to do it – especially after coming so close the year before. Now, it’s the parent thing, isn’t it? You just want everything to be right for your kids even if you can’t do anything about it.”
It seems striking that her son should have turned to Mauresmo. Just as Judy used creativity and intelligence when coaching Andy, instilling the textured variety in his play that continues today, so Mauresmo displayed the same attributes as a player. She won Wimbledon in 2006 and also coached last year’s winner, Marion Bartoli. “Amélie was a great tactician and she understood and felt the game really well – as Andy does too,” Murray says. “That’s where I see the synergy between them. Obviously everyone will be very interested to see how it works out. But the early signs are good. They’re both enjoying the challenge.”It seems striking that her son should have turned to Mauresmo. Just as Judy used creativity and intelligence when coaching Andy, instilling the textured variety in his play that continues today, so Mauresmo displayed the same attributes as a player. She won Wimbledon in 2006 and also coached last year’s winner, Marion Bartoli. “Amélie was a great tactician and she understood and felt the game really well – as Andy does too,” Murray says. “That’s where I see the synergy between them. Obviously everyone will be very interested to see how it works out. But the early signs are good. They’re both enjoying the challenge.”
There have been inevitable jibes about Mauresmo being a woman working in men’s tennis. “I couldn’t do it since I don’t think highly of the women’s game,” the Australian player Marinko Matosevic said last week. “It’s all equal rights these days. Got to be politically correct.”There have been inevitable jibes about Mauresmo being a woman working in men’s tennis. “I couldn’t do it since I don’t think highly of the women’s game,” the Australian player Marinko Matosevic said last week. “It’s all equal rights these days. Got to be politically correct.”
Andy Murray has responded calmly. When Mauresmo’s name was first mentioned he said: “I don’t really care whether the other male players like it or not. I was coached by my mum for a long time.” He reiterated recently that “I’ve always had a strong female influence in my career. My mum, especially, listened extremely well and that’s something I needed right now.”Andy Murray has responded calmly. When Mauresmo’s name was first mentioned he said: “I don’t really care whether the other male players like it or not. I was coached by my mum for a long time.” He reiterated recently that “I’ve always had a strong female influence in my career. My mum, especially, listened extremely well and that’s something I needed right now.”
Judy Murray hesitates when asked if an ability to listen is one of Mauresmo’s best attributes as a coach? “I don’t know her so well. It’s about Andy working out for himself what he needed. He obviously wanted someone he could talk to and who would listen to him and work on certain aspects of his game. They have lots of similarities so she will understand him very well as a player.Judy Murray hesitates when asked if an ability to listen is one of Mauresmo’s best attributes as a coach? “I don’t know her so well. It’s about Andy working out for himself what he needed. He obviously wanted someone he could talk to and who would listen to him and work on certain aspects of his game. They have lots of similarities so she will understand him very well as a player.
“As she gets to know him as a person it will be a lot easier for her to communicate because it’s a complex process finding the right chemistry. Of course I hope it works well and I really don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t.”“As she gets to know him as a person it will be a lot easier for her to communicate because it’s a complex process finding the right chemistry. Of course I hope it works well and I really don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t.”
Who first suggested Mauresmo to the Murray camp? “It was Darren Cahill again,” she says of the former Australian player who works as a commentator and a coach for Adidas. Cahill, significantly, also advised Murray to appoint Lendl. “Darren’s one of the greatest coaches in the world,” Judy Murray says, “and he knows Andy very well. So Darren came up with some suggestions – and Amélie was one. I wasn’t really surprised because I saw the similarities in their games.”Who first suggested Mauresmo to the Murray camp? “It was Darren Cahill again,” she says of the former Australian player who works as a commentator and a coach for Adidas. Cahill, significantly, also advised Murray to appoint Lendl. “Darren’s one of the greatest coaches in the world,” Judy Murray says, “and he knows Andy very well. So Darren came up with some suggestions – and Amélie was one. I wasn’t really surprised because I saw the similarities in their games.”
Lendl’s influence still runs deep. “He taught Andy and his team so much about preparing for these big events,” she says. “Ivan gave Andy that edge he needed to win the really big ones. But when I first heard he was taking over as Andy’s coach [in December 2011] I must admit I had a different perception of Ivan. Darren’s a wonderful guy and a great teacher – and we initially approached him to become Andy’s coach. But Darren couldn’t do it and he suggested Ivan.Lendl’s influence still runs deep. “He taught Andy and his team so much about preparing for these big events,” she says. “Ivan gave Andy that edge he needed to win the really big ones. But when I first heard he was taking over as Andy’s coach [in December 2011] I must admit I had a different perception of Ivan. Darren’s a wonderful guy and a great teacher – and we initially approached him to become Andy’s coach. But Darren couldn’t do it and he suggested Ivan.
“My knowledge of Ivan was the imposing player who never smiles. I wasn’t sure but you have to trust people who know. Darren said: ‘This really will work because they’ve got so many similarities.’ He was right. They got on like a house on fire and Ivan did an amazing job.”“My knowledge of Ivan was the imposing player who never smiles. I wasn’t sure but you have to trust people who know. Darren said: ‘This really will work because they’ve got so many similarities.’ He was right. They got on like a house on fire and Ivan did an amazing job.”
Murray is a warm and engaging woman – and her work as a coach, to her sons Jamie and Andy and other current professionals, is considerable. She still harbours a passion for tennis, at 54, which has its roots in a truncated playing career. “I would have loved to have given it a go as a player,” she says, “but when I was a junior you played tennis in the summer and badminton in the winter. There were no indoor courts, and the governing body was one man in an office. So winning lots of Scottish titles [Murray she won 64 over the course of her long junior and senior career] wasn’t a big deal. When I finished school I went off [on tour] on my own around 1976. I wasn’t tough enough. On the court I was very tough – but off it you’re all by yourself and life is very hard.” Murray is a warm and engaging woman – and her work as a coach, to her sons Jamie and Andy and other current professionals, is considerable. She still harbours a passion for tennis, at 54, which has its roots in a truncated playing career. “I would have loved to have given it a go as a player,” she says, “but when I was a junior you played tennis in the summer and badminton in the winter. There were no indoor courts, and the governing body was one man in an office. So winning lots of Scottish titles [Murray won 64 over the course of her long junior and senior career] wasn’t a big deal. When I finished school I went off [on tour] on my own around 1976. I wasn’t tough enough. On the court I was very tough – but off it you’re all by yourself and life is very hard.”
Murray remembers playing Mariana Simionescu, the Romanian who was then Bjorn Borg’s girlfriend, and eventually his first wife. Simionescu reached the fourth round of Wimbledon in 1977, and climbed as high as world No7. “The thing I remember most about her,” Murray says, “was that after the match she wanted to go to the changing room for a cigarette. She couldn’t smoke in front of Borg. I lost in straight sets because she was much better than me. But the experience of wanting to play regularly at that level and not being able to, because there was no real opportunity in my country, was the tough part. Anyway, I didn’t last very long and went to university instead.”Murray remembers playing Mariana Simionescu, the Romanian who was then Bjorn Borg’s girlfriend, and eventually his first wife. Simionescu reached the fourth round of Wimbledon in 1977, and climbed as high as world No7. “The thing I remember most about her,” Murray says, “was that after the match she wanted to go to the changing room for a cigarette. She couldn’t smoke in front of Borg. I lost in straight sets because she was much better than me. But the experience of wanting to play regularly at that level and not being able to, because there was no real opportunity in my country, was the tough part. Anyway, I didn’t last very long and went to university instead.”
There is a clear sense that Murray felt the urge to coach and succeed in a way that had been denied her as a player. “When I started coaching I volunteered to help the juniors at our local club which was a few hundred metres from our house. That was to keep me playing and get me out the house. The boys were tiny and I enjoyed it. I always felt I’d be a teacher and that’s what I am.There is a clear sense that Murray felt the urge to coach and succeed in a way that had been denied her as a player. “When I started coaching I volunteered to help the juniors at our local club which was a few hundred metres from our house. That was to keep me playing and get me out the house. The boys were tiny and I enjoyed it. I always felt I’d be a teacher and that’s what I am.
“Some of my kids got quite good and the local boys won the Scottish schools’ championship for Dunblane. Callum Davidson [who still plays football for St Johnstone after stints at Blackburn Rovers and Leicester City] was my reserve. I was so emotional as that was my first success and these kids came from my club, school and town. It was just four boys of roughly the same level and they were a great little unit. Some of the younger kids started to get even better and I thought: ‘Gosh, I need to learn more’, because I’d played with a wooden racket.“Some of my kids got quite good and the local boys won the Scottish schools’ championship for Dunblane. Callum Davidson [who still plays football for St Johnstone after stints at Blackburn Rovers and Leicester City] was my reserve. I was so emotional as that was my first success and these kids came from my club, school and town. It was just four boys of roughly the same level and they were a great little unit. Some of the younger kids started to get even better and I thought: ‘Gosh, I need to learn more’, because I’d played with a wooden racket.
“I did some qualifications and when I got the opportunity to be Scottish national coach in 1995 I started on a £25,000 salary with a £90k budget that was meant to cover everyone from the age of seven to the seniors. I had no staff. I just had one indoor centre, with four courts, at Stirling University. There was nothing else. I identified 20 kids between seven and 11 – including Colin Fleming, Jamie Baker, Bally [Elena Baltacha], Jamie and Andy. From that group we’ve got grand slam winners [Jamie Murray also won the mixed doubles at Wimbledon], Olympic gold, Commonwealth gold with Colin, four Davis Cuppers and one Fed Cup player.”“I did some qualifications and when I got the opportunity to be Scottish national coach in 1995 I started on a £25,000 salary with a £90k budget that was meant to cover everyone from the age of seven to the seniors. I had no staff. I just had one indoor centre, with four courts, at Stirling University. There was nothing else. I identified 20 kids between seven and 11 – including Colin Fleming, Jamie Baker, Bally [Elena Baltacha], Jamie and Andy. From that group we’ve got grand slam winners [Jamie Murray also won the mixed doubles at Wimbledon], Olympic gold, Commonwealth gold with Colin, four Davis Cuppers and one Fed Cup player.”
Baltacha’s death last month, from cancer, still hurts Murray. “I knew Bally since she was nine and her first tournament was in the under-10s at my club in Dunblane. As national coach I had lots of involvement in her junior days. But I got to know her particularly well the last three years with the Fed Cup. She was a really fierce competitor – with the heart of a lioness. You saw that fight with all her illnesses which included the liver condition she had from 19 up until her death. She was a real battler – but also kind, funny, humble and appreciative. She was one of my favourite people in the world, without question. That’s why we’re so committed to her Rally for Bally cancer charity.”Baltacha’s death last month, from cancer, still hurts Murray. “I knew Bally since she was nine and her first tournament was in the under-10s at my club in Dunblane. As national coach I had lots of involvement in her junior days. But I got to know her particularly well the last three years with the Fed Cup. She was a really fierce competitor – with the heart of a lioness. You saw that fight with all her illnesses which included the liver condition she had from 19 up until her death. She was a real battler – but also kind, funny, humble and appreciative. She was one of my favourite people in the world, without question. That’s why we’re so committed to her Rally for Bally cancer charity.”
The bond Murray feels with all the players from her Scottish development group is obvious. “We only had those four courts and played with six or even eight on a court and made it challenging. I had to learn how to coach. My last qualification took a year and I had files of paperwork. I’m clever so therefore I can write good projects for that kind of qualification. But I was less comfortable translating that information to the kids. How do you teach them bio-mechanics? Eventually I thought: ‘No, I’ll go back and just say turn your shoulders.’The bond Murray feels with all the players from her Scottish development group is obvious. “We only had those four courts and played with six or even eight on a court and made it challenging. I had to learn how to coach. My last qualification took a year and I had files of paperwork. I’m clever so therefore I can write good projects for that kind of qualification. But I was less comfortable translating that information to the kids. How do you teach them bio-mechanics? Eventually I thought: ‘No, I’ll go back and just say turn your shoulders.’
“There was nothing about angular rotation which I didn’t really understand anyway. So it’s about communication. I’m a great believer in developing skills like the drop-shot slice and changing the pace. I like to create thinkers and variety.”“There was nothing about angular rotation which I didn’t really understand anyway. So it’s about communication. I’m a great believer in developing skills like the drop-shot slice and changing the pace. I like to create thinkers and variety.”
Murray, by now, is beaming and transmitting the verve she had displayed throughout a morning at the Roehampton club when working with a dozen gifted young players brought together by Head. As an ambassador for Head she also remembers how Andy attended a similar masterclass, with Tim Henman, as a teenager.Murray, by now, is beaming and transmitting the verve she had displayed throughout a morning at the Roehampton club when working with a dozen gifted young players brought together by Head. As an ambassador for Head she also remembers how Andy attended a similar masterclass, with Tim Henman, as a teenager.
At an even higher level she expects the GB women’s team to achieve real success – after the different obstacles faced by Heather Watson and Laura Robson have been overcome. “I’ve really enjoyed working on the Fed Cup even if it’s a strange gig in some ways. Obviously the girls have their own coaches and it’s only once or twice a year they come together as a team. But it’s great fun.At an even higher level she expects the GB women’s team to achieve real success – after the different obstacles faced by Heather Watson and Laura Robson have been overcome. “I’ve really enjoyed working on the Fed Cup even if it’s a strange gig in some ways. Obviously the girls have their own coaches and it’s only once or twice a year they come together as a team. But it’s great fun.
“We’ve had some really good wins and been unlucky not to get to the world group. We played Argentina and didn’t have Heather. She had glandular fever and then against Hungary we didn’t have Laura. But we can really do some damage when Laura and Heather reach their peak. Heather’s just about back to where she was before the glandular fever. For Laura, it’s hard because wrist injuries are always tough. But it’s important to look after that wrist for the long term.”“We’ve had some really good wins and been unlucky not to get to the world group. We played Argentina and didn’t have Heather. She had glandular fever and then against Hungary we didn’t have Laura. But we can really do some damage when Laura and Heather reach their peak. Heather’s just about back to where she was before the glandular fever. For Laura, it’s hard because wrist injuries are always tough. But it’s important to look after that wrist for the long term.”
Robson has since confirmed that she will also have to miss the US Open in August. By then, beyond the hope that her son will have staged a stunningly successful defence of his Wimbledon title, Murray hopes to have received planning permission for a new tennis centre in Scotland. “I’d love to have a community centre where I can share everything I’ve learned about the game. This is my last chance and I really want it. We’re applying for planning permission next month and, hopefully, we can produce many more players. I’m determined they’ll have more of an opportunity than I did as a kid. If I do that I would be really proud.”Robson has since confirmed that she will also have to miss the US Open in August. By then, beyond the hope that her son will have staged a stunningly successful defence of his Wimbledon title, Murray hopes to have received planning permission for a new tennis centre in Scotland. “I’d love to have a community centre where I can share everything I’ve learned about the game. This is my last chance and I really want it. We’re applying for planning permission next month and, hopefully, we can produce many more players. I’m determined they’ll have more of an opportunity than I did as a kid. If I do that I would be really proud.”