For the first time in his career, Andy Murray will face an opponent not named Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer in a grand slam final.
On his 11th appearance in a major final, Murray will on Sunday take on Canadian No6 seed Milos Raonic, looking to capture a second Wimbledon trophy and third slam title overall.
Murray is 2-8 in grand slam finals and is on a three-match losing streak in title matches at the majors.
He’s back in the Wimbledon final for the first time since he won it in 2013 and is thrilled to have another shot at a grand slam trophy.
“These tournaments are why I’m still playing and why I’m training hard and trying to win these events, that’s what really motivates me,” said the world No2, who is playing his third slam final of the year.
“Obviously to win them is great. They’re very hard competitions to win. I’ve been in the latter stages a number of times, won some, obviously lost some tough ones, as well. Yeah, I’d love to win it again obviously.”
Murray won his two grand slam titles under the tutelage of Ivan Lendl before parting ways with him in 2014.
They reunited ahead of this year’s grass court season and many will give a lot of credit to Lendl should Murray triumph over Raonic Sunday.
“I don’t think it’s a coincidence. I obviously had the best years of my career with him. But there is other people that go into it, as well. The rest of the team that’s working with me has helped get me into this position,” said Murray, who is on a five-match winning streak against Raonic.
“There’s no guarantees that I win on Sunday, obviously. But I obviously wanted to work with Ivan again to try to help me win these events. That’s the goal. But, yeah, there’s a lot of people have helped get me into this situation. My whole team’s responsible for that.”
American legend and six-time Wimbledon champion Billie Jean King believes Lendl – a winner of eight majors himself – helps Murray control his temper on court, something the Scot often struggles with.
Murray has a habit of yelling at his box during matches, but many feel Lendl is the one person that can discourage him from doing so.
“I love him, I’ve always liked him,” King said in a TV interview with the BBC.
“I think he’s so talented, he’s got soft hands, he can do anything, he’s great about women.
“The only thing that hurts him is he self-sabotages when he’s on the court, I want to just shake him.
“But Lendl is doing the right thing, Lendl doesn’t look at him at all, or if he looks to Lendl, Lendl is talking to somebody else. Lendl and Judy (Murray’s mother) are very stoic, they stay perfect, do not let him in one iota.
“When Craig Kardon and I coached Martina Navratilova, she wasn’t allowed to look at us. And if she did, it’s a bet, it’s money, it’s something. You have to make it, you have to stay on the court.
“And when Murray decides to stay on the court, he’s amazing. His second serve, obviously has gotten better, that’s where he can break down sometimes, only when his head has gone wacko.
“But when he’s playing well, nobody retrieves better, he’s got a great volley, nobody has got a better topspin lob off of both sides. He is brilliant, his mind… I’ve watched him since he was younger and I just think he’s brilliant. I think he could have accomplished a lot more than he has even.”
Murray beat Raonic on grass three weeks ago in the Queen’s Club final after he was trailing the Canadian by a set and a break. For the first time since 1988, the two Queen’s finalists will face-off in the Wimbledon final and Murray is happy he got to face Raonic on this surface so recently.
“It helps to have played a match against him on the grass. You know, see some of the things he’s doing on this surface a little bit differently,” said the 29-year-old.
“Yeah, the thing that stands out for me was the return winner I hit on the break point at 3‑1 to get back into the match (in Queen’s). That was the turning point really. He hadn’t lost serve the whole week. Came up with that return, the match changed from there.”
Tomas Berdych, the player Murray dismantled in the semi-finals on Friday, is tipping the Scot for the title.
“I think he can (win), yeah. Definitely, he can. The fact that probably his biggest rival, Novak (Djokovic), is not in the draw anymore definitely helps for him. I think he has all the tools to make it all the way,” said the Czech.
“(The key) is definitely going to be Milos’ serve. But I think Andy is one of the best in eliminating this big weapon of the opponent. So I think he actually likes to play these big guys, just come up with his creative game, try to break the rhythm of the big guys. So that’s why I feel that he can do it.”
