A lot had been made of the return of many legends as coaches in today’s game and the narrative for Sunday’s final was described by some as a showdown between bitter rivals John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl, rather than the players they were coaching.
Lendl has done little to no press since he rejoined the Murray camp but when he spoke briefly with the BBC, he brought back memories of his rivalry with McEnroe with just one cheeky line.
He was asked if he had met McEnroe at Wimbledon during the tournament.
Lendl said he had seen him once in the locker room.
“Was it a long chat?” asked the reporter.
“I didn’t say we chatted,” Lendl quipped back donning his signature poker face.
Classic, Ivan!
Meanwhile, Andy Murray joked that Lendl might have a particular “ritual” during the Scot’s matches, and it’s not what you would expect.
Murray was asked about a moment during Sunday’s final where he appeared to be angry at something regarding his team. The reporter asked if it was because Lendl had left the stadium to go to the toilet.
“No, I wasn’t annoyed (by that). He’s done that after every single match here after two sets. I don’t know if it’s a ritual of his or not. Yeah, I was annoyed at something, but not that,” said Murray.
Reporter: “Can you tell us what you were annoyed at then?”
Murray, smiling: “No. It certainly wasn’t that.”
Another line of questioning sent the press conference room into laughter.
A journalist told Murray about a fan who on Tuesday came out of hospital after a month from having a crushed pelvis from being run over. On Wednesday he came straight here to see Murray play and he was at Wimbledon for the final as well.
“He had the last of his morphine to get himself through the day to watch you. What does it mean to you to have that sort of support? Anything you’d say to that man in particular?” said the journalist.
“Firstly, hopefully he’s okay, and get back on the morphine,” said Murray.
“No, I mean, that’s obviously, yeah, amazing. That’s the thing. Like hearing those stories now, I feel happy and proud.
“They’re all the things I’m trying not to hear during the tournament because there is a lot of pressure and stress. But the support that I had throughout the two weeks, especially today, was amazing support today. It really helps. It does make a difference when you’re out there, for sure.”
“Get back on the morphine” is likely to go down as the line of the tournament.