Andy Murray, who is facing Milos Raonic in the Wimbledon final, says that he is not sure what coaching arrangement Raonic has with John McEnroe, but he’s happy to be back with Ivan Lendl.
The 57-year-old McEnroe has been a coaching consultant for Raonic during the grass-court season, but otherwise hasn’t generally coached on tour, and is also commentating during the tournament.
Murray played down the presence of former rivals McEnroe and Lendl coaching against each other in the final. It is also a rematch of the Queen’s Club final, where Murray defeated Raonic to win the title.
“I was told that John and him were not working together from Sunday,” Murray said. “I don't know what the deal is, exactly, or if John will be sitting in the box or not. I'd imagine he'd be in the commentary box, I think. I haven't given it too much thought. I spoke about this before the Queen's final. I think it's more interesting for you guys than it is for the players, cause I'm playing against Milos.
"I'm not playing against John, and Milos isn't playing against Ivan.”
McEnroe won seven Grand Slams and Lendl won eight majors.
Murray went into this Grand Slam final as the favorite for the first time.
“Obviously [it’s the] first time I'll play a Slam final against someone that isn't Roger [Federer] or Novak [Djokovic],” he said. “So that's different. But you never know how anyone's going to deal with the pressures of a Slam final. So [I] just have to go out there and concentrate on my side, do what I can to prepare well for it and see what happens.”
Lendl returned as Murray's coach at the beginning of the grass-court season, having previously helped Murray win two Grand Slam titles. The world No. 2 is more confident with the presence of Lendl.
“I do think it helps," he said. "I do think, in these situations, it can make a difference. I don't think he'd be doing this job if he didn't believe in me, and believe that I could win these events, because he doesn't need to. That helps. But also the information I get from him, the psychological help that I get from having him around—being able to chat [with] him at these events, before the big matches, makes a difference.
"That's why I think we've been a good team. I think we both trust each other.”