• US Open

Lendl: Olympic win will boost Murray

ESPN staff
August 26, 2012
Andy Murray stunned Roger Federer to win Olympic gold © Getty Images
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Ivan Lendl believes Andy Murray has cleared a major stumbling block in his quest to win a grand slam.

Lendl, who joined forces with Murray at the start of the season, believes Murray's gold medal at London 2012 was a tougher title to win than a major because the Olympics only come around every four years.

Murray beat Wimbledon champion Roger Federer in straight sets to win singles gold before adding a silver medal in the mixed doubles with Laura Robson at his home Games.

Lendl said: "I talked to Andy after the match, and I said to him, 'You picked the most difficult one to win first, because you only get one chance every four years'.

"If you look at it, when Andy was 21 he wasn't quite ready. Now he's won it. I have no illusions that at 33, there will be new players, the game will have moved forward and it's going to be much more difficult. He picked the right title to win first."

Lendl, who like Murray lost his first four grand slam finals, clinched his first major at the 1984 French Open, and the former world No. 1 believes Murray's Olympic win is as good as a major - not only in terms of confidence, but also in earning the respect of his rivals.

"It is a big help because of the way the others perceive you," Lendl said. "Not necessarily because of the way you look at yourself or how you feel. Is it worth a point in a tiebreak in the fifth set? I don't know. Maybe."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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