Development and changes in Andy's tennis from January 2012

[LC the fan]

Now that we have a few weeks before Andy is in action again, it would, perhaps, be interesting to discuss those '1% differences' that have had such a wonderful effect on his results. There is no doubt that both Andy's approach, mental attitude and tennis have all been subtly and steadily changing.
Obviously Ivan Lendl has had a major influence but we must also give credit to Andy for recognising the need 2 years ago. I remember when he split with Miles, he said they had had an open discussion and it had become apparent that they saw things very differently. Had Miles, perhaps, never seen him quite at the top of the tree ??

There are so many subtle changes and I thought it would be good to hear everyone's views and little things noticed.

If nothing else it will help fill the time until we're off again

[pabbers]

Difficult to know what may have gone on with Miles but I do suspect he wanted Andy to be more aggressive but it's taken Lendl and his stature, experience and empathy with Andy's situation to convince Andy that this is the right thing to do.

[RoastLamb]

I think it's mental attitude more than his way of playing. He's so different now, so mature; he doesn't get so stroppy now on court when things go wrong. It's given him so much more confidence. Really glorious to see this all unfold from the 18-yr-old to now and to see where he goes from here. Amazing.

[LC the fan]

Confidence ! The word says it all but where did that inner belief start ? Wher did it come from ? A couple of years ago Andy could have crumpled in the quarters or semi, certainly at 4-1 down but somehow most of us believed he would get back this time.
There s an air about him now that champions have. Did it start in the Olympics ?
The boy has become a Man but something, somewhere has made a big difference

[daveollie]

I'm not sure about the specifics of the 1%'s than Ivan has made to Andy's game but I'm convinced it's all in the head. I remember a conversation with a friend of mine a few years ago when Andy was a set up against Nadal in the semi at Wimbledon and missed that easy forehand down the line to give him the break points in the 2nd set. Within 15 minutes Nadal had won the set and didn't look back. We agreed then that Andy had the ability to beat the top guys and win slams, but he just had to get his head right. I do believe that the easyish opponents that the other three all faced for their 1st big ones made a difference to their careers as they all won slams at an early stage in their careers and therefore had the confidence that goes with that. Ivan has somehow managed to convince Andy that he is capable of great things and I reckon it's this more than any technical bumf that has made Andy the best player in the world (arguably) and it's all the more satisfying an achievement that Andy's wins have come against the top guys as opposed to a Philippoussis, Tsonga or a Puerta.

[banskogirl]

Yes I remember in that match where one point changed everything. Andy seemed to lose all confidence when he missed the line. I think I told you all about a friend in my work who really annoyed me last year asking why Andy couldn't have won at Wimbledon when he was able to win on the same court in the Olympics. I told her I thought it was all in his head.........and that it wouldn't be any more. Once he had beaten Fed on centre he knew he was capable and that he could have before that. I told her it would be completely different from then on and it has been :) Maybe one of these days Andy will only have to beat a non slam winner in a slam final like the rest!

[david1610]

Firstly, out of fairness to Miles, Alex (Corretja) was also very much involved in Andy's development and not just for clay. It was not always clear where differences in opinion lay.

There have been two main changes IMHO since Ivan arrived. The first is Andy has more weight of shot e.g. on the forehand and has learnt to be able to play more aggressively more regularly.
But by far the biggest difference is that "Andy goes again". If he has a chance to get a BP, break serve, get a set, MP, etc, if he does not take it he is looking to get another one and not getting down on himself for not succeeding. He looks to the next point.
He is more interested in using the next points to (go on and) win a match, and no longer beating himself up if he has not played good enough shots so far in the match.

Put simply, the perfectionist has made way for the pragmatist, who comes with plenty of resolve! Until the last point, victory is always in the future and Andy has realised that!

[pabbers]

Yes I think Andy is more confident that he can rely on that improved, powerful forehand these days and that's helped his mentality - so if he missed that shot against Rafa now, he wouldn't go back into his defensive shell like he did on that occasion and as he used to do regularly. I do think that mentality also comes from his time with Lendl though - the "go down swinging" attitude that he seems to have instilled in Andy is working a treat.

[LC the fan]

I heard Andy say recently (not sure where but I'm sure one of you guys knows) that, if he missed a shot or made an error, thinking about it lessened his strength which is working out how his opponent is playing and adjusting his own game. Time spent dwelling on his errors took away one of his greatest strengths. Pure Lendl !!

Another new trait is a tendency to be a bit ruthless. Andy is a nice guy and doesn't take easily to hitting the ball at the opponent at the net but I noticed he let a couple fly in the quarters and semi at Wimbledon. Again, pure Lendl

[Jan62]

Agree with everything said so far. Confidence in beating the top 3 in the big tournies - "success breeds confidence, confidence breeds success". He has definitely matured the last 2 years, and wastes a lot less energy now in grumpiness! He still gets annoyed when something doesn't work out, but either he keeps it all inside or just lets out a little bit and moves on quickly. I think Mr Lendl has definitely helped him with that, amongst lots of other things.

I remember reading or hearing an interview where Andy said last year (think it was pre wimbly), that he was a bit worried that if he did manage to win a slam then his life would change too much - i.e. he wouldn't be able to maintain the somewhat low key off-court lifestyle he had always enjoyed. Ivan reportedly told him that the only thing that changes is you get the best seat in the restaurant and can choose your tee time at the golf course! :) Actually, I think it might have been one of those rare video interviews with Ivan where that came out. I thought that it said a lot about Andy's state of mind - we know he is essentially a very guarded, private person who values time with family and friends and does the whole media thing only because he has to, and he clearly thinks quite deeply about life/the universe/everything. He's said more than once that he likes his life - he enjoys the training, the matches, the kind of lifestyle he can afford because of his success. But I think he doesn't relish the whole celebrity thing, and if it was at the back of his mind that winning one or more slams meant that would change, maybe it was subconsciously holding him back.

As everyone keeps saying, the loss to Federer at Wimbledon and then the Olympic gold was probably the real turning point. I have no doubt that Ivan really earned his money then - to boost Andy up after that loss, and he said how distraught he was afterwards, to come back fighting for the Olympics. I have no doubt that Andy's team, Kim, and his family did their bit too after the Fed loss - but I'm certain it was Ivan who had some magic dust to sprinkle and that was the real key. Getting the brilliant backing at the Olympics must also have helped.

Ivan keeps saying he can see where further small improvements can be made in Andy's game, but it seems pretty clear that its the mental side where he's really made a difference. Oh, and being a bit more aggressive and coming forward more!

Whatever, it is just such a joy to see Andy really coming in to his own. Two time Slam winner, Olympic champion, plenty more to come :)

[pabbers]

Yes Jan62 - I think the Olympics coming when they did (he couldn't avoid them) so soon after that loss was a make or break time and he embraced it and moved forward. Who knows what might have happened without the Olympics and the usual gap before the next tournie. I think it all played into the hands of success.

[LC the fan]

I think the reception he got just after the loss in the final also helped his confidence. I remember when the audience at Mock the Week gave him a standing ovation he was quite overcome.
Then the support at the Olympics . All these things help

[daveollie]

I think the reception he got just after the loss in the final also helped his confidence. I remember when the audience at Mock the Week gave him a standing ovation he was quite overcome.
Then the support at the Olympics . All these things helpTo be honest, it disgusted me to see the wigs at Wimbledon cheering for Federer in last years final, can you imagine the Swiss cheering for Andy if he played Federer in Zurich or Basel. That may sound a bit strong but it's how I felt. I wonder what the support ratio's would have been if it was Andy/Federer in the final this year.

[Caro]

To be honest, it disgusted me to see the wigs at Wimbledon cheering for Federer in last years final, can you imagine the Swiss cheering for Andy if he played Federer in Zurich or Basel. That may sound a bit strong but it's how I felt. I wonder what the support ratio's would have been if it was Andy/Federer in the final this year.

I know what you mean, and I don't like it either, but think of this forum. We have people from all over the world who support Andy, sometimes above their own country men .... so I guess it works both ways.

I felt it more acutely at the O2 last year when Andy played Fed in the final. I guess we just have to accept that Fed has a LOT of fans.

[pabbers]

To be honest, it disgusted me to see the wigs at Wimbledon cheering for Federer in last years final, can you imagine the Swiss cheering for Andy if he played Federer in Zurich or Basel. That may sound a bit strong but it's how I felt. I wonder what the support ratio's would have been if it was Andy/Federer in the final this year.

We've had this discussion many times on this forum. Tennis is not really a national team sport, or a local one like footie, so people tend to support the person whose tennis they most enjoy. I for example was not remotely interested in Henman, Brit though he was. In the olden days (I'm old!!) I supported McEnroe and would have supported him against any Brit unless that Brit's tennis appealed to me more than his. So I don't think it's as simplistic as supporting someone because of their nationality. Nor am I sure that it should be.

[daveollie]

We've had this discussion many times on this forum. Tennis is not really a national team sport, or a local one like footie, so people tend to support the person whose tennis they most enjoy. I for example was not remotely interested in Henman, Brit though he was. In the olden days (I'm old!!) I supported McEnroe and would have supported him against any Brit unless that Brit's tennis appealed to me more than his. So I don't think it's as simplistic as supporting someone because of their nationality. Nor am I sure that it should be.I'm quite patriotic, and back the brits all the way. And I also think that the support that Andy got during the Olympics was one of the big factors in the turn around in his carreer. I couldn't imagine myself supporting anybody against a brit at anything. I loved McEnroe but I'd have still been cheering Bates on against him haha. I'm glad Andy is a brit because I can be patriotic and get behind a true champion at the same time now.

[Linda]

I was surprised that even the vicar said he was cheering for Fed last year! Although he said he supported Andy this year. Of course, as others have said, tennis is an individual sport and people just support their favourite player. I would always support the Brits in Olympics or Davis Cup, but some people even then say they would prefer to support their favourite player. It's all a matter of individual choice, nobody is "right" or "wrong". Although if I were actually at an event such as Wimbledon, and a Brit were playing against my favourite player (hypothetical situation here), I would never loudly support against the Brit. It wouldn't seem right to me.

[daveollie]

Whether it's right or wrong I couldn't imagine it happening at the other slams, can anybody remember examples of it at Melbourne, NY or Paris?

[RoastLamb]

I would give all my support to any British player at Wimbly. Bar none. I love Rafa to bits but if he was in the final (or even an earlier round match) against a British player he wouldn't get my cheers.

[daveollie]

I would give all my support to any British player at Wimbly. Bar none. I love Rafa to bits but if he was in the final (or even an earlier round match) against a British player he wouldn't get my cheers.Hear hear RoastLamb

[rouges]

Isn't nice Andy is having his own Wimbledon Stamps. Just ordered mine. Well Royal Mail supports his achievements. Bravo.

[pabbers]

Whether it's right or wrong I couldn't imagine it happening at the other slams, can anybody remember examples of it at Melbourne, NY or Paris?

Fed has always had very loud and vociferous support wherever he's played - it doesn't necessarily come across on tv. We probably just noticed it last year because Andy was playing him on home ground.
I too am patriotic when it comes to the Olympics or DC - I think that illustrates what I said earlier about team sport - the Olympics is a team event even for those playing as individuals. They're playing for their country rather than themselves. Whilst Andy was clearly delighted to have won Wimbledon for the Brits and to have got another monkey off his back, I doubt he viewed it as a GB v Serbia match.

[RoastLamb]

I'm pretty sure that if Djokovic and Federer were playing in Belgrade, Djokovic would have most if not all of the crowd's support. In the case of Wimbly and other grand slams I suspect there are quite a few seats bought by international folk because I got offered a travel package for finals weekend.

[ProdigyEng]

Forehand has improved, backhand has regressed, but that doesn't matter. Andy's mental strength has improved ten folds and that's the key ingredient.

[Mickey]

Forehand has improved, backhand has regressed, but that doesn't matter. Andy's mental strength has improved ten folds and that's the key ingredient.His backhand had not regressed at Queens, it was outstanding in the semi and final, but I do agree with you about his mental strength, and his confidence will also play a factor, success breeds success.

[Reef]

On Sunday I watched the US Open DVD where Andy famously gave himself a "talking to" during his bathroom break and came out firing on all cylinders - suddenly he was all about self-belief and that was key to his win. He seemed to have that in spades in the Wimbledon final, even during the "dips" he believed he could come back, and did - so I definitely agree that the biggest change has been a mental one. However I also had the feeling everything about his game was a tad better in the Wimbley final but I need to re-watch with a more critical eye to back that statement up.

[Madeline]

I'm pretty sure that if Djokovic and Federer were playing in Belgrade, Djokovic would have most if not all of the crowd's support. In the case of Wimbly and other grand slams I suspect there are quite a few seats bought by international folk because I got offered a travel package for finals weekend.

You're right. You have only to walk about the Wimbledon grounds to hear a multitude of other languages, and variations of English - American, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand etc.

[LC the fan]

Forehand has improved, backhand has regressed, but that doesn't matter. Andy's mental strength has improved ten folds and that's the key ingredient.

Not sure that the backhand has regressed - maybe with different aspects to his play he isn't so reliant on it - some flashing backhand returns stunned Verdasco, J J and Novak though.
The one shot that I haven't seen much recently is that backhand down the line taken on the run - that is so special - Magic

[traveller7]

I think Andy just needs to improve points on 2nd serve and his game will be almost flawless

[rimarli]

I think Andy just needs to improve points on 2nd serve and his game will be almost flawless
I do agree that he needs to improve his 2nd serve but he does seem to have a little bit as he now puts spin, slice and kick on it sometimes. As the rest of his game has improved he is more able to defend his 2nd serve. Most of his strokes have always been extremely good but he did not have the confidence to use them as being perfectionist if he missed he would not use it again. This is where I think Lendl has been a large factor by showing him that he has to expect to lose one or two but to go on using them.

I have watched the Wimby match again with a nice relaxed outlook and am amazed at his shots. He just went for them and most of the time was successful. Poor Nole seemed to be nonplussed by them and actually to me looked a little worried. I do not think Andy has any fear of the top boys any more.