Andy Murray and Ivan Lendl reunite for a third time: The last roll of the dice for three-time Grand Slam winner?

The band is back together again. Andy Murray has made the shock announcement that Ivan Lendl will be re-joining his coaching team for a third time. The two previous spells together were the most successful times of Murray’s career, producing all three of his Grand Slam wins, two Olympic gold medals and a run to world No.1 in 2016.

But can the golden duo add to their collection of greatest hits after so long apart? Ad/> It’s an undoubted boon for Murray that Lendl wants to work with him again. It was reported that Lendl needed some convincing to commit to their second spell and wanted assurances about what exactly he was getting into, so he must see something now to bring him back again for a third time. His only coaching stint since splitting with Murray for the second time in 2017 was a 12-month spell with Alexander Zverev that seemed to end on sour terms.

Zverev suggested Lendl was more interested in his dog and golf game rather than tennis practice; Lendl said it was “difficult to work” with Zverev due to some “off-court issues”. TennisMurray brings back Lendl as coach6 HOURS AGO Lendl has not been on the coaching radar since that partnership ended in July 2019. Perhaps it helps that Murray is not hiring Lendl as a full-time coach to travel around the world with him.

Lendl is a reluctant flyer and ended the first partnership with Murray because he was not prepared to commit to more than 15 weeks on tour. He will not hook up with Murray in Indian Wells next week but could join him at the Miami Open as he lives nearby. The two will then work together over a training block in Florida during the clay season and try to get Murray in the best shape possible for the grass.