Andy Murray needs to listen to the game's greats to make progress, says Boris Becker

Published on Monday 1 February 2010 23:26

ANDY Murray needs to tap into the knowledge of some of the greats of the game if he is to make the transition from contender to winner at the Grand Slams, according to Boris Becker. The former Wimbledon champion believes the lack of top-level experience in Murray's coaching team is one of the factors preventing the Australian Open runner-up from making that last step, and thinks that someone such as John McEnroe or Jimmy Connors could bridge the gap.

"I was looking at Andy's box during the match, and there was no-one up there who knows what it is like to be out in a Grand Slam final," Becker said. "Don't get me wrong, Team Murray are first rate – they have made Andy the third best player on the planet – but you cannot learn the skills you need out on the centre court from a book, or from hearsay.

"You need to talk to people like John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, someone Andy would listen to and respect. For Murray, it is now about playing the right shot at the right time, not running or going to the gym.

"I'm not putting myself forward – my plate is already full – but maybe someone older, who can come in for the four Grand Slams, and talk about the five or so make-or-break shots in a match, and how best to play them."

Murray's principal coach is his fellow Scot Miles Maclagan, who reached a high of 172nd in the world. His biggest moment in a Grand Slam was taking Becker to five sets at Wimbledon in 1999, but while he lacks first-hand experience of top-level competition he is an astute tactician who has played a significant role in his compatriot's rise.

The most experienced member of Murray's back-up team, albeit someone who is not a full-time member of it, is Alex Corretja. The Spaniard, a former world No2 and twice the runner-up at the French Open, was first enlisted to help out during the clay-court season two years ago. He returned to the camp at the same time last year, and is now billed as a coaching consultant rather than someone who only helps out at a specific time of the season.

Corretja, who was at home in Barcelona during the Australian Open, regarded Murray's semi-final victory over Marin Cilic as exemplary in at least one respect. "Andy has been able to find a very good balance between defence and attack," he said after that match. "That was the most important thing today."

However, for Becker, among many other observers, Murray lost that balance in Sunday's final against Federer, which he lost in straight sets. The German suggested that after a positive start Murray became too defensive – a criticism that had been levelled at him in the past, and that he appeared to have taken on board earlier in the tournament, not just against Cilic.

"How assertive he was in the final was always going to be crucial. At the very start of the match he went head to head with Roger, but he then reverted to his usual defensive game, and allowed Roger to play such great tennis.

"Even when he had set points, in the third set, he could not take the big step. He tried to attack, but a mid-court forehand let him down. It is not a shot he would usually select, and on the big points, tennis players revert to instinct.

"It was a revealing moment, and one which showed Andy now needs to improve technically, to ingrain the killer shot so deep inside him that it becomes instinctive to play it at the right moment, like Roger. That is the next stage in his progression."

It remains to be seen how carefully Murray considers Becker's advice. In Brad Gilbert, he has previously worked with someone who, while not a great of the game, was accepted as one of the world's leading coaches.

The American, a former world No4, was Murray's main coach from July 2006 until November of the following year, and although the Scot reached a new high of No8 during that time it was at least arguable that he would have achieved as much without Gilbert's help.