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Murray and Lendl have five-year plan

ESPN staff
December 14, 2012
Andy Murray says his relationship with Ivan Lendl could last into the Scot's 30s © PA Photos
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Andy Murray says his success in 2012 has convinced him that Ivan Lendl is the right coach for the long term, adding that he sees the relationship potentially lasting into his 30s.

Lendl became the Scot's coach in January 2011 on a more month-to-month basis. But following Murray's maiden grand slam win at the US Open in September, and an Olympic gold medal on top of that, the two are now talking about five-year plans.

Murray says that Lendl offered him the right words after he lost to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open last year, which assured him that the Czech was the best man to head up his coaching circle.

He was proved right in dramatic fashion in 2012 and Lendl believes Murray can kick on in 2013, even backing him to win the French Open if the 25-year-old puts his mind to it.

Murray is of the same opinion regarding next year as a whole, saying that while losing motivated him to be better, winning fires him up even more.

"I don't want to stop here," Murray told the Daily Mirror. "I want to keep winning more major titles. I used to think that losing made you more hungry and determined but after my success at the Olympics and the US Open I realise that winning is the biggest motivation.

"We have a very good relationship, it's very honest, open. I think that's why it's worked so well and why both of us are planning long term.

"We spoke at the end of last year and it was much more short term, let's see how the first few months of the year goes, now it's what are we going to be doing in four or five years' time? I came to that conclusion when I spoke to him after the Australian Open last year, the day after I lost the match to Novak.

"The night of it he just said what seemed like the right things. Because I have got so much respect for what he has done, everything he said I was listening. He seemed to know what I wanted."

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