The WBA light-welterweight champion recruited the fight game’s most renowned trainer, Freddie Roach, to help steer his career following the shattering first-round knockout defeat by unheralded Colombian Breidis Prescott, in September 2008, that threatened to derail Khan’s meteoric rise through the rankings.
The Bolton fighter believes that the knowledge that Roach has acquired as a top-class boxer and trainer of the world’s best pound-for -pound fighter, Manny Pacquiao, has been crucial in his ascension to the world throne. But after watching Murray come up short in all four of 2009’s Grand Slams against opposition he routinely beats on the ATP Tour, 23-year-old Khan believes it is time for Murray to draw upon the services of one of tennis’s recognised coaching greats if he wants to achieve his potential.
Khan, a huge admirer of Murray’s talents, said: “To become the best you can be at any sport I believe is down to two people, the athlete or player and his coach. When I started work under Freddie, I was able to start drawing on so much knowledge, wisdom and experience. When I looked at what Freddie had helped Pacquiao achieve, it allowed me to have total trust in him and his methods. Every time I watched Manny, it underlined my belief in Freddie and what he teaches.
“No disrespect to Andy’s coaching team, but can they bring all of that to bear? Does Andy’s coach have the experience and the knowledge to help him go to the next level of becoming a Grand Slam champion? Because that is what can make the difference between absolute success at the highest level.”
Of course, the famously opinionated Murray has already dispensed with the services of one world-class coach in Andre Agassi’s former mentor Brad Gilbert, while his predecessor, British journeyman Mark Petchey, was also abruptly dispensed with. Murray has now joined forces with former French Open champion Alex Corretja during the clay-court season and there is speculation that arrangement could be extended in 2010.
Yet, the world No 4 appears to remain happy with the input of former GB Davis Cup player Miles MacLagan, whose career reached its zenith with a ranking of 172 and who has failed to produce a performer of any note during a low-key coaching career.
Indeed, it is reasonable to assume that there is a weak link in Team Murray as the Scot has so far been unable to learn from his defeats to Fernando Verdasco in the Australian Open, Fernando Gonzalez in the French Open, Andy Roddick in Wimbledon and Marin Cilic at the US Open.
Despite reaching a career-high ranking of world No 2 and winning more titles than any other player on the ATP tour with six victories, Murray’s inability to build any real Grand Slam momentum was a major disappointment last year.
Khan, however, has no doubt in his friend’s ability to grasp new chances from adversity and achieve his ultimate goal as the curtain prepares to go up on the 2010 tennis season.
The Olympic silver medal winner said: “Over the four fights I have had under Freddie Roach, I have gone back to school, got rid of the bad habits I had before and also absorbed all of the skills and knowledge that Freddie has taught me. That has been the major difference in helping me realise my dream in becoming a world champion.”
Khan’s humble attitude to his revered trainer Roach is perhaps one the Scot could learn from.
“The relationship between the boxer, athlete or player and his coach, whatever his sport, is absolutely vital in any sport at the top level and there needs to be 100 % trust in there,” he said.
“I have come back from a very bad defeat and learned an awful lot and become a better boxer for it. Maybe if Andy is to go on in 2010 to achieve his potential that is what he will need to do.”
Murray happy to mix it – page 26
