Why Andy Murray won Wimbledon

In the wake of Andy Murray’s magnificent Wimbledon win, and given that tennis is now big business, it got me thinking about my own business ethos – 'Attitude is Everything’.

During Wimbledon fortnight, comments were frequently made with regard to Andy’s new found discipline and positive mental attitude, the lack of which had previously hampered his opportunities to finally come through.

There seems to be general agreement that the key to his success is his relationship with Ivan Lendl, who became Andy’s coach in 2012.

Although Lendl was never able to achieve a Wimbledon title himself, he is still acknowledged to have been one of the world's top tennis players.

Lendl's success in the game was due in large part to his meticulous and intensive training and physical conditioning regime, his scientific approach to preparing for and playing the game, and a strong desire to put in whatever it took to be successful.

Through his relationship with Andy, he was able to improving Murray’s maturity, give him confidence, and importantly, curb Murray’s on-court tantrums; the same transformation that both Bjorn Borg and Roger Federer had to undergo before they rose to achieve the dizzy heights of success.

The key to their relationship however is Lendl's personality. Murray recognises the inner core of steel in Lendl and can identify similar elements of his own character. Lendl is also candid and precise, with clarity of thought. The lack of sentimental emotion between them, along with their demanding natures, ensures a relationship held together by the common threads of work ethic and ambition. However, Lendl, wisely, also brings work/life balance to the party.

In interviews leading up to Wimbledon Lendly has likened these Grand Slam matches as being like war.

“We all know that it’s a war out there,” he said. “It’s very unlikely you’re going to win in a blowout, especially against a guy like Novak. These players are so good, and the game is much deeper than when I played 20 years ago. If you’re not on top of your game every single day, someone will take you out.”

“At some stage in a final, it’s going to come down to who wants it more badly. What price are you willing to pay? Who can stay strong under the extreme pressure?”

“My job is not to worry about what it would be like for him to win, my job is to prepare him and give him the best chance to win.”

In business, as in any activity performed at the highest level, everyone needs a mentor and a decent support network; it has to do with preparation, and recognition of an individual’s talent, which must be nurtured, harnessed and channelled to result in techniques that will be competitive at the very highest level.

We all know that Prior Planning Prevents P*** Poor Performance. I would suggest we now all adopt the 4Ts – Talent; Tenacity; Training and Teamwork.

Oh, and of course, a decent tennis racket!