Wimbledon: Andy Murray given 'a bit of extra confidence' under Ivan Lendl

Murray will face fellow Briton Liam Broady in his opening match

Murray will face a fellow Briton in a Grand Slam for the first time (Getty)

With the start of Wimbledon only two days away, Andy Murray says he is ready to make “a big push” over the next fortnight.

The Scot has an outstanding record at his home Grand Slam tournament, which he won three years ago, and has been encouraged by his first fortnight back in harness with Ivan Lendl, who started his second period as the world No 2’s coach at Queen’s Club last week.

Murray said it had been “easy” to settle back into the relationship with Lendl, whose original spell with the Scot ended more than two years ago.

“It wasn’t difficult,” Murray said of their reunion. “He's obviously very clear in what he thinks and where my game needs to go if I want to keep improving and winning the major events again. Because I trust and believe in his opinion, it also helps when you get back on the court together. When we’ve chatted, it’s all gone very well.

“I believe my practice this week has been good. My team’s been happy with everything. If it wasn’t going well, I probably wouldn't have had a day off today. I’ve taken a day off the practice court, trying to refresh a little bit and recover a little bit.”

He added: “I don't feel any added pressure working with Ivan again. I think it actually gives me a bit of extra confidence, because I know that last time we worked together, it was very successful. I trust what he says.”

For the first time in his Wimbledon career Murray will face a fellow Briton when he meets 22-year-old Liam Broady in his opening match on Tuesday. “I know Liam fairly well,” Murray said. “We practised a bit earlier this year, around February or March, after the Aussie Open. He’s a good guy. He works hard.”

With 15 home players competing in the main draw of the singles events here, Murray described the current state of British tennis as “pretty positive”.


 Murray lifts the Aegon Championships trophy after beating Canada's Raonic 
 (Getty)

Citing the progress of players like Johanna Konta, Naomi Broady, Kyle Edmund and his brother Jamie, Murray said: “Things are hopefully going in the right direction. I’m not saying it’s perfect, but it’s more positive than some of the years I’ve been here, for sure.”

Murray was particularly pleased for 25-year-old Marcus Willis, the world No 775, who will play in a Grand Slam tournament for the first time after coming through qualifying. Willis meets Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis in the first round, the winner to play Roger Federer or Guido Pella in the second.

“He’s an awkward player,” Murray said when asked about Willis. “He’s got quite a different sort of game style. He serves and volleys a little bit. He’s got really good touch, good volleys. He puts a lot of slice on his slice backhand and has quite a spinny forehand. He’s quite an unusual player. I’ve hit with him a few times.”

Murray added: “I remember a couple of years ago he was trying to get some funding together because he wanted to try to play a full year on the tour. I remember retweeting something he was doing to try and raise money online to keep playing because he wasn’t getting any funding any more.

“He had been to one of the Davis Cup ties when we played here. He was part of the team. He’s a really nice, good, fun guy. He’s really popular with all of the players. The guys know him really well.


 Lendl began his second spell as Murray’s coach this summer 
 (Getty)

“It’s just a really cool story. He pretty much stopped playing, then was coaching pretty much. He then went into pre-qualifying at the last minute, got through that and then went into qualifying. Obviously no guarantees he wins his first match, but with the potential to play Roger, it would be an amazing story. I’m happy for him that he’s got the chance to play here. It’s obviously something he always wanted to do. He’s earned his chance now.”

Murray has helped a number of the British men on their climb up the world rankings but stressed: “Ultimately the players need to do the work, as well. It comes down to them. If I’ve given them a little bit of extra incentive to work a bit harder or motivated them in any way, then I’m really, really happy about that.

“But ultimately they need to be the ones themselves that go out and win the matches, practise and train hard. That’s just the sort of culture you want in this sport in this country, because that’s something that I think a lot of players, coaches and other people that have been involved in the game feel like we’ve lacked a bit in the past. Hopefully moving forward that will be something we do a little bit better.”

Murray gave his strongest indication yet that he will play in Britain’s Davis Cup quarter-final away to Serbia, which starts just five days after the Wimbledon final.

“My plan’s to play, providing I’m fit and feel good,” Murray said. “Right now my body’s good. Obviously I’ve played a lot of tennis. Hopefully I’ll have a deep run here. That’s the plan. Then obviously I’ll see at the end of the event, but my plan’s to play, providing I don’t pick up any niggles and I feel good physically, which I do right now.”