Ivan Lendl Says He Wants To Ruin Novak Djokovic’s Chances At A Calendar Year Grand Slam
Now back in tennis as Andy Murray’s coach, Ivan Lendl says he’s out to ruin Novak Djokovic bid to complete at Calendar Grand Slam.
Speaking to the Guardian, Lendl explained:
“In tennis there is the career grand slam, there is four in a row, there is the calendar year grand slam and the golden slam. He [Djokovic] has a chance to do that this year,” he said.
“Obviously Andy and I would like to ruin those plans if we can. But, if you go back in history, in ’38, when Don Budge won, and Rod Laver won in ’62 and ’69, those were calendar year grand slams. But I don’t believe there was another time when someone held all four [simultaneously]”.
Lendl added that this second go-round with Murray is different than his first.
“I think it’s very different the position this time,” Lendl told the paper. “Until you win one, you never know you have it in you. We know he has it in him now, so the question is: can he do it again? I think that’s an easier question to answer than ‘Can you do it at all?’ So it’s quite a bit different now.”
Lendl admitted there wasn’t one reason he’s returned to coaching, but revealed that having multiple surgeries to fix his hips made the decision easier.
He also reminded that there’s no set duration of this partnership. “We will figure it out,” he said.
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