Ivan Lendl and Andy Murray back in winning ways at Queen's Club

By Russell FullerBBC tennis correspondent

Last updated on .From the section Tenniscomments66

Andy Murray and Ivan Lendl
Ivan Lendl previously coached Andy Murray from December, 2011 to March 2014
Aegon Championships
Venue: Queen's Club, London Dates: 13-19 June
Coverage: Live on BBC Two, Radio 5 live & 5 live sports extra, Red Button, Connected TVs and BBC Sport website. Click for more details

Ivan Lendl said it felt as if he had "never stepped away" after watching Andy Murray mark the resumption of their coaching partnership with a win.

Lendl was in the players' box as world number two Murray beat Nicolas Mahut 7-6 (10-8) 7-6 (7-1) to reach the second round at Queen's Club.

"Andy and I have talked over the last few years," Lendl, who reunited with the Scot on Sunday, told BBC Sport.

"We've stayed in touch, and as you know, we parted on good terms."

Murray won the Olympics, the US Open and Wimbledon during his original spell with the Czech-born American, until Lendl decided in March 2014 that he no longer wished to spend sufficient time on tour.

The 56-year-old - an eight-time singles Grand Slam winner - is expected to work with Murray for up to 20 weeks a year.

Jamie Delgado and Ivan Lendl
Jamie Delgado (left) will continue to work with Murray as part of his coaching set-up

He has never talked fondly about the travel involved, and says there is not one overwhelming reason why this feels the right time to return.

"Everybody asked me what was it that made you do it, and I can't answer that. I really don't know, there are so many factors in there," Lendl added.

"I can't say what changed it from 'not really' to 'yes'.

"I don't mind living out of a suitcase, and I don't mind the longer trips - let's say to London or to Australia - I just hate the ones from week to week where you spend five days somewhere, and you have to go to the airport again."

Lendl has already been 'welcomed back to the locker room' by his former rival Boris Becker, who has recently enjoyed huge success with Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic currently holds all four Grand Slam titles, and helping Murray beat the world number one is one of the principal reasons Lendl has been drafted back into the team.

"Everybody can improve in almost every area - even Novak," Lendl said.

"There are obviously things which we are going to work on which are more important than some others, but I'm definitely not going to be specific."

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66 comments

  • Comment posted by starman, at 03:17 15 Jun 2016

    Andy was so nearly a set and a break up against Novak at the French, and Ivan can help add that bit of steel to see the job through. You're very welcome back into the side Ivan, all the best to you and Andy.

  • Comment posted by theparfinator, at 00:39 15 Jun 2016

    Fingers crossed he can get Muzza back to challenging for Grand Slams! It's about time someone threw Novak off his perch (not to mention having a British world number 1...)

    Come on Andy!!!

  • Comment posted by CaledonianCraig, at 09:42 15 Jun 2016

    Let me educate you Proud 2B Different:-

    http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/tennis/tim-henman-andy-murrays-jibe-1977579#qyAk5eAl9MXkGOZb.97

    Banter. English Tim takes mickey FIRST out of Scotland (we hear nothing about that) and Andy gives it back. Remind me not to involve you in banter.

  • Comment posted by CaledonianCraig, at 09:03 15 Jun 2016

    The bitter brigade are out. Two slam wins beating the world No.1, Olympic Gold beating King of Wimbledon Roger, Davis Cup winner, one of only ten players in the history of tennis to reach all four slam finals and on the brink of top ten for most slam finals reached by any male player in history. What a player. A few years from now and Britain will be back to celebrating a Brit winning a match.

  • Comment posted by merjervits, at 01:13 15 Jun 2016

    Lendl can give Murray the confidence to attack, attack, attack. Then he can beat Djokovic for sure.

  • Comment posted by Pa, at 09:20 15 Jun 2016

    re (22)
    That's where you are wrong mate, very proud of Andy and all that he has achieved.

  • Comment posted by jkinjapan, at 00:41 15 Jun 2016

    Hopefully the calming firm hand required that has been lacking recently.

    The perfect combo, again ...

  • Comment posted by TrojanOtter, at 06:35 15 Jun 2016

    Wishing the Ivan/Andy all the best. It won't guarantee that Murray will beat Novak to more Slams, but should increase his chances.

  • Comment posted by josh, at 01:18 15 Jun 2016

    @2 he has been challenging for Grand Slams, reaching the last 2 finals :P
    but yeah, hopefully Lendl will give him the confidence again and go one better and get the W again in a Slam.

  • Comment posted by CaledonianCraig, at 09:31 15 Jun 2016

    BenL - bitterness is a nasty thing. It warps minds and twists facts.

    Those in tennis recognize Murray as one of the very best players in the world whereas bitter keyboard warriors will say otherwise even though they warriors wouldn't know a racquet head from a handle.

  • Comment posted by Pauline Fothergill, at 09:57 15 Jun 2016

    Fantastic. Lendl was able to channel Murray's undoubted talent and passion the right way. It is wonderful to see a British sportsperson with such competitiveness and passion for a change - more power to his game and more entertainment for we tennis lovers.

  • Comment posted by Baron_Silas_Greenback, at 09:43 15 Jun 2016

    @22 Proud 2B Different

    Your choice of username is at odds with your bigoted, narrow minded comment.

    Andy Murray wins and the Anti-Murrays can't stand to see it. Keep raging at the wind boys - your wailing discomfort is like a warm blanket to the rest of us. We love it.

  • Comment posted by Jeff Harris, at 06:32 15 Jun 2016

    I think it needs to be appreciated how great Novak is ,all 4 slams in a year are his ,that takes some player .Andy has 2 in his whole career.Novak is one big beast

  • Comment posted by derekmgb, at 10:35 15 Jun 2016

    It was on the cards and brave as it was to appoint Mauresmo Andy needs Lendl to match Djokovic's coaching staff.
    Now bring it on and lets see him knock the Serb from his perch!

    Please just ignore the anti-Murray comments, it's just embarrassing now and very out of date.

  • Comment posted by crc07, at 08:52 15 Jun 2016

    Great to see Lendl back in Murrays team. Lets hope his calming influence will help him get over the Novak hurdle,

  • Comment posted by Papa__Lazarou, at 09:56 15 Jun 2016

    Great to see Lendl back in the box at Queens. I remember reading somewhere that the best thing Lendl did was 'to get him to understand that you play your best tennis when you're emotionally calm'. Good luck Andy.

  • Comment posted by U3966095, at 11:35 15 Jun 2016

    Obviously Djokovic is better than everyone at the moment (in fact look at his rankings breakdown right now and it's tough to find a player in history who had as good a record at any time - there might not be one) but that doesn't mean in a one off match Murray can't beat him. He did it at Rome a few weeks ago and his record against Djokovic on grass is good.

  • Comment posted by U16231627, at 09:40 15 Jun 2016

    Lendl and Murray are clearly the right fit with the chemistry just right. The 'team' aspect of tennis at the very top level is often underestimated and the right/wrong coach can make a tremendous difference. Wawrinka's transformation under Magnus Norman from a very good 'also ran' to a real threat to the top players, was dramatic. Further back Tony Pickard was critical to Edberg's success.

  • Comment posted by Wildsnoopster, at 09:26 15 Jun 2016

    agreed Bear (23) live outside of London and big Murray fan. Shame that other ill informed people want to speak on our behalf.

  • Comment posted by TDF, at 06:51 15 Jun 2016

    @7 Faisal.

    Andy did just that in 2012 when he won the Olympic gold. Roger was more of a force then.

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