Mum’s the Word for Andy!
Mum’s the word for Andy Murray as he heads towards US Open on a high
I can relate to this article, as a Mum of a 23 year old !
Published Date: 17 August 2010
By Stuart Bathgate
ANDY Murray is entirely relaxed about the fact he is going into the US Open without a coach, for at least a couple of reasons. First, and most obviously, he is in his best form of the year right now, having won his first tournament of 2010 in Toronto at the weekend.
Secondly, while he has yet to formally replace Miles Maclagan, he is already benefitting from the assistance of one of the wiliest coaches in the game – his mother Judy.
The Scot beat Roger Federer 7-5, 7-5 in the final of the Rogers Cup on Sunday after knocking out world No 1 Rafael Nadal in the semi-final – the only time so far he has defeated the two in the same tournament. As at Wimbledon, where he reached the semi-final before losing to Nadal in straight sets, Judy helped her 23-year-old son by watching his opponents in practice and offering tactical advice.
Murray said yesterday that as well as working on tactics, Judy was there “as my mother” and that he always appreciated her supportive presence at tournaments. But, while she has done her best to remain in the background, she has played an increasingly important role in her son’s recovery from his poor run of form in the first half of the year.
Having coached Andy from his first involvement in the game, she knows his strengths and weaknesses better than anyone else. From first-round opponent Jan Hajek onwards, Judy had a part to play in preparing the world No 4 for his matches at Wimbledon: it was a larger part than she had had for some time, and in retrospect can be seen as a sign that all was not well between Murray and Maclagan, with whom he parted company last month.
Murray still credits Maclagan with having done a lot of good work, and has explained that all the knowledge imparted by a coach does not disappear from a player’s mind the minute that coach departs. But while that is the case, it is equally true that a player can feel in daily need of a sounding board or second opinion, and that in the absence of a coach he either goes without such advice or finds it elsewhere. In Murray’s case he has found that advice from Judy.
The presence of his mother, and his improved form, should not, however, be taken as a sign that Murray is edging towards a decision to go without a coach altogether. He still wants one, but explained that he did not want to make an appointment in haste. “I said at the start that I would like to have a coach,” he said. “I think most players would like to have a coach.
“But I want to have the right person working with me and have the structure and set-up I would like. I’m not going to rush into anything.
“I’m sure after the US Open I will look hard at the type of person I would like to work with.
But I can’t see myself making any changes before the US Open.”
Murray has long held the belief that the US Open, which begins in a fortnight, is his best chance of a Grand Slam, and his form in Toronto will ensure he goes into the event in confide
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nt mood. He aims to keep up that form at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters in Cincinnati this week, but even if he does have a bad result there he is unlikely to be shaken out of his present frame of mind.
“It was one of the best weeks I’ve had,” Murray said after completing his defence of the Toronto title with his victory over Federer. “Winning a tournament is always great, but it’s the first time I beat Roger and Rafa in the same tournament, which is probably the most pleasing thing.
“And I didn’t drop a set against either of them. It’s very satisfying. I mean, it doesn’t happen that often for anyone.
“The whole week was very good. I was a bit inconsistent at the start, but I played some very good tennis before the quarter-finals and the last few matches will definitely give me confidence in the next few weeks. I’ll try to play well in Cincinnati, but if not then preparations have gone very well so far and I’ll try to keep it going before the US Open.
“I know things can change in a very short space of time, but obviously I feel good after this week.
(The US Open has] always been a tournament I love playing, so hopefully I can do well there.
“I want to win (a Grand Slam]. I believe I’m good enough to, but it’s a very, very difficult thing to do.
“It’s a tough era, but it’s also something that is exciting and challenging, and that’s why I think if you can do it, it makes it a much, much greater achievement.”
http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Mum39s-the-word-for-Andy.6478183.jp?articlepage=1
Another classy, classy game from Andy! 