• ATP Tour

No need to cut out on-court tantrums - Murray

ESPN staff
January 9, 2012

Andy Murray claims he does not need to eliminate on-court tantrums from his game completely, but believes new coach Ivan Lendl can help him maintain his focus when he does lose his rag.

Murray confirmed the appointment of former world No. 1 Lendl on New Year's Eve in the hope Lendl, an eight-time grand slam champion, can help him end his chase for major glory.

Lendl arrived in Australia last week in time to see Murray win his first title of the year in Brisbane, and the Scot was upbeat about his first few days with his new trainer.

"It's only been four days, but just the way he operates is good for me," Murray told The Times. "He understands the way it needs to work. He won't be on to me every single minute of the day but the time we spend together will be honest, open, good fun.

"He's not worried about today's match, or the day before, or the Open, he is worried about putting in the right work, giving everything I can. People say I haven't done this and I haven't done that, but as long as I give 100 per cent and put in the hard work, there's nothing more that I can do.

"Someone like Lendl is not going to let me get away with 90 per cent. I'll give everything I can and he will make sure I'm prepared as well as possible and have the right mindset for the big events."

Murray accepts his behaviour on court has at times been unacceptable - the Scot has been in trouble for swearing on court and smashing his racket in frustration. But the British No. 1 insists that tantrums will not impede him, as long as he learns to respond in a positive manner.

"At no stage last year did I see Novak [Djokovic] go a match without saying anything," Murray said. "I saw him go nuts on the court and win matches. Sometimes it was almost like he wasn't trying for a set and then he would come back.

"You can break a racket, but if you serve an ace the next point, that is what matters. In the first two rounds this week, I was angry with myself a few times, but I kept coming up with first serves. There were two break points against [Gilles] Muller and I hit two first serves back to back. So long as you have a clear head when the next point starts, that's what matters."

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