Andy mutually ends partnership with Ivan

Jaffa · Challenger level

Andy mutually ends partnership with Ivan

Jan · Hall of fame

Didn't see that coming!
They did seem to be a very "good fit", and Andy has achieved so much with Ivan. But we have to trust that they feel it's right, I guess.

thegingerlightbulb · Lower Club Player

"Mutually agreed" is normally a face saving term to hide the fact that one or other of the separating party was unsatisfied with the other. If this is Andy's choice, I find it a strange one. Under Lendel he won two slams, when it seemed grand slam success would elude him forever. I'm not really sure what more Ivan could have done for Andy. The dip in form is surely due to a combination of injury and possible slight decline in motivation or desire now he has won the US and Wimbledon. Hopefully both can move on and have great success in their respective fields from here on in.

-- Edited by thegingerlightbulb on Wednesday 19th of March 2014 01:29:17 PM

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

I'm very disappointed to hear this. I was looking forward to them hooking up again in Miami so Lendl could sort out Andy's head again. Maybe it was knowledge of the split coming that was bothering him last week. To be honest, I'm not sure Andy can move forward from this, I just hope that he can.

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Not surprised in the slightest. Lendl was brought in for a specific reason and he delivered. Not much point him sticking around while Andy is totally uncompetitive. Sounds like Lendl has better things to do with his time.

Miriambee · Futures level

The 64 K dollar question is who initiated the split? ivan fed up with Andy not going beyond QFs, or Andy feeling the coaching technique was inappropriate now he's won a couple of slams?

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Miriambee wrote:
The 64 K dollar question is who initiated the split? ivan fed up with Andy not going beyond QFs, or Andy feeling the coaching technique was inappropriate now he's won a couple of slams?

I'd've thought that the $64,000 question was rather who will step into Mr Lendl's shoes...

Spectator · All-time great

Oh, bother. That's not really very encouraging. Apart from everything else, doesn't send out the greatest message ... whatever the cause of the split. And for someone who prizes loyalty in his team - and has been with most of them for the better part of his career - that kind of thing can't be easy. (Yes, I know he split with coaches regularly earlier on ... but they never felt quite a part of the team in the same way that the constants have ... or that Mr Lendl has).

-- Edited by Spectator on Wednesday 19th of March 2014 03:14:27 PM

RJA · Hall of fame

This strikes me as a recognition from one party that Andy now needs a much more pro-active coach. Lendl was brought in to add the last touch of polish to an almost finished product. Andy's game now needs a huge amount of work if he is going to compete with the top guys again.

indiana · Tennis legend

Ah, kind of sad, and althougjh I didn't see it coming, now thinking about it I am not totally shocked or really negative about it.

I agree with kundalini that Ivan was brought in for a specific reason, i.e. the final part of the jigsaw who could possibly with his thoughts and experiences help Andy cross the over the line from great player and nearly man to Slam champion.

And I very much believe he showed that he was the right man at the right time and I am sure that Andy and most British tennis fans will be forever grateful.

But all good things tend to come to an end or just reach their natural conclusion.

Ivan came and he delivered, and I certainly can see where RJA is coming from that, with Andy moving on from his triunphs over the last couple of years and finding his way ( slowly ) again after his back surgery, now is maybe the time to bring in a more pro-active coach. Andy is no longer searching for the final ingredient to make him a Slam champion, but he may want to be with someone who he can work more intensively with on his game.

IVAN LENDL - THANK YOU !

philwrig · Hall of fame

Shocker, Lendl was huge in getting Andy over that mental hurdle of not winning a slam, they both publicly stated that this relationship would take them to the end of Andy's career, so this came from nowhere.

Won't be easy for Andy, lets just hope something can be salvaged here, and he can refind his top form sooner rather than later.

scottie1 · Futures level

Andy's old self re-appeared at Indian Wells the moaning down on himself attitude. Lendl cut that out of him Sad about the split. Would Lendl have got fed up with Andy who knows?
Anyway agree that Andy needs a lot of work to get back into top4 or even stay in top 10.

indiana · Tennis legend

I must say that I am still very confident that Andy will end the year top 10 and indeed reach the WTF at the O2, in spite of the harbouring of doom appearing in a few places.

My earlier confidence that Andy would be back to top 4 by year end has lately been eroded a bit, although I still see it as very possible. And I am not convinced that the split with Lendl will particularly negatively effect this.

Armchair · County player

I'm pleased that whatever the reasons or whoever instigated the split they have both managed to be courteous and
professional about the situation to the media.

Lets hope that continues .

I have to say when some R5 pundit suggested McEnroe as coach I did get pretty enthusiastic. It might not make any sense in terms of Andy's
progress but I'd love the fireworks !

BeefyDeedz · Pro player

As soon as I found out, I immediately thought of it as just the end of the Lendl phase. As has been said, Lendl was brought in with the aim of knowing how Andy felt about the whole GS finals thing. He overcame it (with aplomb!) and I wasn't surprised. Massive gratitude and appreciation for Ivan's work, and now it's time for Andy to get down to work and find another, presumably, 'super' coach, with more of a focus on what he needs right now.