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Andymonium


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Murray Fitness Trainer for USO
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Original story:

Murray hires trainer to toughen up for US Open
By Gavin Versi

(Filed: 20/08/2006)


During a radio interview at the end of 2004 Andy Murray said his target for the following season was to break into the world's top 50. Given that he had not even played a professional match at the time and was ranked 411, one could have been forgiven for laughing out loud.

He did it, though, albeit a couple of months late, and when tomorrow's rankings are published the 19-year-old will have already accomplished his 2006 goal of reaching the world's top 20. Clearly Murray is a man who lives up to his own hype.

Under the guidance of new coach Brad Gilbert, Murray has won 11 matches in three tournaments. Before he linked up with the Californian it took him 11 tournaments to score that many victories.

It is easy to lavish praise on Gilbert but newly appointed Davis Cup coach, John Lloyd, pointed out a crucial change the American has made: Murray's on-court behaviour has improved and has doubtless contributed to his success.

"The first thing I've noticed is that his demeanour around the court is different," said Lloyd. "The way he carries himself seems to be a lot more positive. Brad has given him a lot of confidence."

There was one major exception to this new outlook: during his defeat to Andy Roddick in the Cincinnati quarter-finals this week, an exhausted Murray was his old petulant self and appeared to shout angrily in his coach's direction.

Gilbert played down the incident. "Andy's got a fiery personality and he's always going to have that," he told The Sunday Telegraph last night. He added: "I think he was just a little disappointed that he didn't have more in the tank. He was really tired. He wanted to play better and he was disappointed. He's been playing well but he just didn't have it physically."

Gilbert has undoubtedly turbo-charged the Scot's self-belief, but the youngster has never lacked confidence. After losing on his main tour debut against the then world No 79 Jan Hernych, Murray said: "Hernych is a pretty average player. If he can get that high in the world then I don't see why I can't either."

It is another illustration that Murray's racket is capable of cashing the cheques that his ego writes. Speaking of which, that is another refreshing change that Gilbert appears to have effected. Whereas previously Murray would react caustically to any suggestion that he needs to improve his physical conditioning, now he appears to accept that it is his primary stumbling block. This week the 19-year-old admitted that he is not fit enough to win a grand slam and that he needs to cope better with the endurance side of the game.

"I want to get that part out of the way so that when I go on court there are no excuses physically and no problems physically and I can just go out there and play against the best players in the world and be in good shape every time," he said. He and Gilbert flew to the Bollettieri academy in Florida yesterday. Murray has been given two days off before beginning preparations for the year's final Grand Slam, which takes place Flushing Meadows in New York on August 28. Gilbert has recruited a specialist fitness trainer, who is best known for his work with basketball players to help with Murray's conditioning. The new trainer should play a part, even if his impact over the short space of a week might be negligible.

"It's a guy that Brad uses, or Brad used, and knows very well from over in California," Murray said.

"He works with some NBA players, and he works with big guys who he wants to take away body fat and put on muscle. I definitely need a bit more muscle, but I could probably do with some more body fat as well"

Murray blamed fatigue for his loss to Roddick in Cincinnati on Friday, having beaten him en route to the San Jose title in February and then overpowered him in straight sets at Wimbledon. However after reaching the final in Washington and semi-finals last week in Toronto, losing in the quarter-finals at Cincinnati may prove a blessing.

Murray will be playing best-of-five-sets matches at the US Open, rather than the best-of-three matches he has contested recently.

"I'm going to relax for a couple of days," Murray said.

"I think I've done enough the last few weeks to earn a few days' rest. Then I'm going to work really hard."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ma...20/stmurr20.xml

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Andymonium


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2 days later Murray says - no way to trainer plans


Murray too tired for fitness coach

Richard Jago
Tuesday August 22, 2006
The Guardian


Andy Murray has abandoned plans to work on his fitness with the American trainer Mark Grabow this week, the last before the US Open, because he is exhausted after 14 matches in 17 days on the North American hardcourt circuit.

Murray's preparations for the first grand slam in which he has been seeded has thus suffered a blow even though the cause of the setback has been an outstanding competitive build-up which exceeded most hopes.


As a result the 19-year-old Scot is now a top-20 player for the first time and arguably the most dangerously improving young player in the world, with hugely bolstered confidence. But placing further loads on a body that is already at a low ebb and has suffered ankle, neck and back injuries in recent months has been ruled out.

"He's dead tired and he's going to need two or three days off because he's so exhausted," said Murray's coach Brad Gilbert, quite possibly understating the situation after flying with him to meet Grabow at Nick Bollettieri's academy in Florida. "He'll hit for a couple of days and then come to New York. Mark was worried that Andy's very tired and that's when you risk getting injured."

Murray will now team up with Grabow, who has worked with Monica Seles, Jennifer Capriati and many professional football and basketball players, after the US Open which finishes on September 10.

The plan is to work for 10 days at Gilbert's home near San Francisco with a more extended session in the off-season in December. Grabow will design a long-term work programme for Murray, which may include shorter training top-ups during the tour when they can be fitted in.

The evidence of the past three weeks is that if Murray can add strength and stamina to a wonderfully varied and outstanding all-round game, he has every chance of pushing into the world's top 10.

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VSandhi20


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Andymonium wrote:

he has every chance of pushing into the world's top 10.


or even WORLD NO.1

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yesyesbadboy


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Just want to add that my question got onto the marcelo rios bbc sport question thingy the one about young guns -- http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/4790323.stm



 



What do you think of the young guns at the moment- Berdych, Monfils, Gasguet, and what do you think of Andy Murray?
Shane Roche, UK

I don't know the youngsters that much. I know them by name but I haven't been following the ATP circuit that closely lately. But from what I hear they are pretty good and hopefully more young guys will come up.

I think Federer is the best player though and he is going to be the best player ever and hopefully he will.

I saw Murray play Massu at Wimbledon but I don't know him that much. Was I impressed by his game? No.



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