Andy Murray and coach Ivan Lendl split after two-year partnership

London Britains Andy Murray and coach Ivan Lendl have mutually agreed to end their twoyear partnership the Wimbledon champion announced WednesdayUnder the guidance of the 54yearold Czech 26yearold Murray won the Olympic gold in 2012 and then the US Open his maiden Grand Slam title and also lifted the Wimbledon trophy in 2013 becoming the first British player to triumph at the venue in 77 years since Fred Perry in 1936In a joint statement on Murrays website it appeared Czechborn Lendl himself a multiple Grand Slam champion had been the instigator of the splitIvan Lendl left and Andy Murray during a training session PicAFPWorking with Andy over the last two years has been a fantastic experience He is a firstclass guy said LendlHaving helped him achieve his goal of winning major titles I feel like it is time for me to concentrate on some of my own projects moving forward including playing more events around the world which I am really enjoyingI will always be in Andys corner and wish him nothing but great success as he too goes into a new phase of his careerLendl has recently played exhibitions in Kansas City Oklahoma City Nashville Charlotte and at Earls Court in London Lendl has also been giving clinics in the Canary Islands as well as opening new courts in South Carolina at the Ivan Lendl Junior Tennis AcademyMurray who is returning from back surgery added Im eternally grateful to Ivan for all his hard work over the past two years the most successful of my career so farIll take some time with the team to consider the next steps and how we progress from here added Murray who continues his return from back surgery and is preparing to defend his Miami titleMurray was already one of the most talented players of his generation but it was only when working with Lendl who like the Scot lost his initial Grand Slam finals that he became a major winnerTheir first significant joint triumph was at the London Olympics before Murray with eighttime major winner Lendl in his corner won the US Open his first Grand Slam titleBut even that success was topped by Murrays victory over Novak Djokovic in last years Wimbledon final a win that saw him become the first British player since Fred Perry 77 years earlier to win the mens singles titleMurray 26 was first introduced to tennis by his mother Judy now the captain of the British womens Federation Cup teamBut as a professional tennis player he worked with several coaches including compatriots Mark Petchey and Miles Maclagan as well as Spains Alex Corretja and American Brad Gilbert before joining forces with Lendl in December 2011Although Lendl had no track record as a tennis coach he was widely regarded as the man capable of turning Murray into a champion given he too had lost his first four Grand Slam finalsMurray speaking after his Wimbledon triumph said of Lendl Hes made me learn more from the losses than I did before and hes always been very honest with me and believed in me when other people maybe didntIvans been very patient as Im not always easy to deal with Hes also honest with meIf I work hard hes happy if I dont hes disappointed and hell tell me He has got me mentally slightly different going into these big matchesAlthough Murrays form has dipped since his Wimbledon victory most observers attribute the downturn to his back injury and subsequent surgery