Lendl interested in coaching Murray

Miami: Ivan Lendl has shown an interest in becoming Andy Murray's coach, with the former World No 1 and winner of eight grand slam titles intrigued by the Scot's disintegrating form and what he must do to win a grand slam.

It is understood that Lendl, who is casting around for someone to coach, has already made informal contact with Murray's advisers, and that could lead to serious discussions.

A grandee of the sport, who has such force of personality, and who would take no nonsense from Murray, Lendl could prove to be a fine coach for Britain's World No 5, especially as he lost his first four appearances in grand slam finals before going on to win every major apart from the Wimbledon Championships.

Relevant experience

Murray's problems can all be routed back to January's Australian Open when he lost to Serbia's Novak Djokovic, the third time he had finished as the runner-up at a slam. So Lendl would have the relevant experience to help him.

Murray is expected to consider the possibility of working with Lendl, who was twice a runner-up at Wimbledon and at one time spent 270 weeks as the World No 1.

Lendl, who has a tennis and golf academy in Florida, was at Miami's Crandon Park on Friday and would have seen for himself just how bad it has got for Murray, as that was the afternoon he lost his opening match to Alex Bogomolov Jnr, an American qualifier ranked 118 in the world.

To borrow from the American tennis vernacular, there has been one "flame-out" after another since Australia, as Murray has lost his opening match at his three subsequent tournaments, in Rotterdam, California and Florida.

Murray wants what Lendl had — to be a grand slam champion and to hold the World No 1 ranking.

During his playing days, Lendl was known for his work ethic, his physical and mental fortitude and for giving his all on both the practice and match courts, and if he is to work with Murray, he would expect him to do the same.

"I certainly see the potential for him to win majors," Lendl said in a BBC interview this month about Murray. The reawakening of Lendl's interest in tennis has come through getting rid of his back pain.

This enabled him to compete on the seniors tour last year and this season and he is of the opinion that he should be able to show a young player how to hit a shot, and not just tell him.