Andy Murray expects Ivan Lendl to have a positive impact

15 June 2016 04:23

Andy Murray believes Ivan Lendl can make an instant impact as the Scot gets set for a Battle of Britain at Queen's.

Murray faces British number two Aljaz Bedene on Thursday in the second round of the Aegon Championships, where he is bidding to win a record fifth title in preparation for Wimbledon.

Before then, Lendl will relish the chance to get stuck into his new pupil, as he follows up Tuesday morning's initial pre-match warm-up with a first proper practice session on Wednesday.

Murray admitted he had played less than five hours on grass all year before his opening win over Nicolas Mahut but while there certainly was evidence of rust against the Frenchman, the 29-year-old showed enough to suggest he is ready to carry his excellent clay-court form into the summer.

The clincher at Wimbledon will be whether he can find a way past Novak Djokovic, the world number one and clear favourite to whom Murray has lost 13 of their last 15 meetings.

Lendl will be aiming to help turn the tide.

"I expect Ivan to have a positive impact on me and my whole team," Murray said.

"Whether that happens in three days or a few months I have no idea, but I trust and believe in what he says and that can obviously help immediately.

"But ultimately it's up to me to perform on the court. It's not like I'm coming in having been garbage the last few months. I have been playing well so I expect to keep that going."

Murray has never played Bedene before. He will be the only British opponent the world number two has ever faced on home soil at tour level and the first anywhere since he lost to Tim Henman in Bangkok 10 years ago.

"It's amazing really," Murray said. "I think maybe Tim is the only one that I ever played. I never played Greg (Rusedski) in a competitive match.

"I played Tim a few times but it's been a long wait really."

Bedene, ranked 58th in the world, was born in Slovenia but has lived in Hertfordshire since 2008 and trains at Welwyn Garden City.

He was granted a British passport in March last year but, much to his disappointment, has failed with repeated attempts to be allowed to represent Britain in the Davis Cup as he played three dead rubbers for Slovenia between 2010 and 2012.

LTA lawyer Stephen Farrow also happens to be the tournament director at Queen's and Bedene said he would look for an update later this week.

His exclusion has drawn sympathy from some members of the British team, including Murray, and the pair have got to know each other as hitting partners.

Bedene has also been working recently with Davis Cup captain Leon Smith, a long-time confidante of Murray's.

"Probably Andy will play a few mind games on me, he's good at that," Bedene said with a smile.

"I'm kidding, he's a great guy. We'll probably say a few words. But all the top guys are true professionals, you basically never see them on-site.

"They are practising, then go back and rest. So, yeah, it's game on now."

Bedene's strengths lie in his solid baseline game so it was no surprise when his best grand slam performance came on the clay at this year's French Open, where he reached the third round.

He has only once reached round two at Wimbledon, last year, and accepts his encounter with Murray will be a chance to introduce himself to British fans.

"I don't see any better court to do that than a court in England, one of the biggest courts," Bedene said.

"I'm just going to try and play my best tennis and show myself basically."

Source: PA