Ivan Lendl- The Man Who Made Murray - Hardcover

‘In his excellent and engrossing book, Hodgkinson sets about tackling the misconceptions and myths surrounding the man, who would eventually win eight Grand Slam singles titles, and as the title suggests, help Andy Murray to realise his ambitions.’

'Hodgkinson, with access to those closest to Murray as well as former players including Mats Wilander, Michael Chang and Pat Cash, gives an amazing insight into their relationship. Equally as fascinating as the 18 months leading up to Murray’s Wimbledon victory is Lendl’s life story both on and off the court. 

Much of the book is devoted to telling Lendl’s tale and his life growing up behind the Iron Curtain in Czechoslovakia. Hodgkinson looks at why Lendl was a ‘monitored person’ by the StB – Czechoslovakia’s equivalent of the Soviet KGB – and how his mother, Olga Lendlova, a determined woman much like Judy Murray, would shape his approach to tennis and to life. Although he would not go on to win Wimbledon himself, the Czech would spend 220 weeks as world No.1, win eight Grand Slams and 22 Championship Series titles.'

'Whatever happened between the two men, their relationship produced the required magic. In his fourth Grand Slam final, at Wimbledon in 2012, Murray fought like a lion before succumbing to Federer. Two months later, on the same court, he won the Olympic Gold Medal. In the autumn, he became the US Open champion. And, of course, he won Wimbledon last year, becoming the first British man in 77 years to claim the title. According to Hodgkinson, Murray’s win “enabled Lendl to attain what had always been out of his reach during his first tennis life: popularity with the British public” '

'Hodgkinson, with access to those closest to Murray as well as former players including Mats Wilander, Michael Chang and Pat Cash, gives an amazing insight into their relationship. Equally as fascinating as the 18 months leading up to Murray's Wimbledon victory is Lendl's life story both on and off the court.’

Much of the book is devoted to telling Lendl's tale and his life growing up behind the Iron Curtain in Czechoslovakia. Hodgkinson looks at why Lendl was a `monitored person' by the StB - Czechoslovakia's equivalent of the Soviet KGB - and how his mother, Olga Lendlova, a determined woman much like Judy Murray, would shape his approach to tennis and to life. Although he would not go on to win Wimbledon himself, the Czech would spend 220 weeks as world No.1, win eight Grand Slams and 22 Championship Series titles.'

'Whatever happened between the two men, their relationship produced the required magic. In his fourth Grand Slam final, at Wimbledon in 2012, Murray fought like a lion before succumbing to Federer. Two months later, on the same court, he won the Olympic Gold Medal. In the autumn, he became the US Open champion. And, of course, he won Wimbledon last year, becoming the first British man in 77 years to claim the title. According to Hodgkinson, Murray's win "enabled Lendl to attain what had always been out of his reach during his first tennis life: popularity with the British public" '

`In his excellent and engrossing book, Hodgkinson sets about tackling the misconceptions and myths surrounding the man, who would eventually win eight Grand Slam singles titles, and as the title suggests, help Andy Murray to realise his ambitions.'