TODAY'S Wimbledon semi-final between Andy Murray and Roger Federer is intriguing enough without considering the Scandinavian psychodrama which will unfold in the coaches' box.
Jonas Bjorkman and Stefan Edberg shared Davis Cup triumph together in the colours of Sweden back in 1994 and rather strangely are united by a love of Leeds United but each will try to outwit the other as the hours count down to a massive match in the lives of both their charges.
Some, of course, are younger than others. While Murray and his new coach competed once on the tour, the 33-year-old Federer shared a court with Bjorkman five times, winning all five. Two of them even came at Wimbledon, with the Swiss being reminded yesterday about a rather traumatic 6-2, 6-0, 6-2 defeat in his solitary Grand Slam semi-final, back in 2006.
"I think we shouldn't speak about that match at all," joked Bjorkman, who will assume Murray' main coaching responsibilities - temporarily at least - when Amelie Mauresmo gives birth to her first child in August. "It's a completely different league. I played pretty good that day, but Roger saw the ball so clear that day and I couldn't hurt him at all. But when Andy and Roger are playing they always have close matches. It's two giants of the game and completely different to the match I played. I've done a few when I've commentated so I'm looking forward to it."
One of those punditry assignments for Swedish TV included the 2012 Wimbledon final, when the Swede could hardly feel to be moved by Murray's tearful on-court summing up of an emotional day. The Scot had taken the first set and had chances in the second, but his opportunity evaporated when Federer raised his level under the roof in the last two sets. Three weeks later, however, he was showing a similar lack of mercy to the Swiss to claim Olympic gold. "It was a great speech," said the Scot. "Everyone felt it and it was great that he came back to win three weeks later."
Edberg, six years his senior, a classic serve-and-volleyer who won six Grand Slam singles titles, was always something of a father figure to Bjorkman. "He's definitely been a role model for me," said the Swede. "He was my mentor more or less because he helped me from early on. He has always been there for me and given good advice. It always meant a lot if he called. We saw each other briefly just now, and we were laughing, so it will be fun to be in the opposite box."
While the Scot will look back on those matches in the summer of 2012 and take inspiration from them, he also said that they would be of limited use. The reason for that is that Federer has completely overhauled his game style since then and in a sense once again Bjorkman is attempting to follow in the footsteps of his friend. Federer had already decided his future would be based more on honing his volleying skills, becoming more aggressive and endeavouring to end points sooner, but his recruitment of Edberg at the start of 2014 was a signal of intent.
"I think he [Edberg] managed to get Roger to be more aggressive," said Bjorkman. "He is definitely looking for the net a lot more to shorten the points instead of maybe challenging the guys from the back as much. Roger always had a great volley but he was sometimes pretty casual. But now you can see he is more determined when he comes forward. He really puts the effort in."
Nine years have passed since Federer taught Bjorkman that lesson at SW19 in 2006 but the Swede isn't surprised by the 17-time Grand Slam winners' longevity. "Everyone said three years ago that he was done and finished but he's still there, playing well, competing for the big matches," said Bjorkman. "I think it's probably more media speculation that this might be his last one. You can never count him out. He's proved that a lot of times."
Federer carries support wherever he goes but Bjorkman doesn't want the crowd to be too fair on Centre Court on Saturday. There may be an old pals' act in the coaching boxes, but the Swede wants an edgy atmosphere in a match where both players will attempt to go for the jugular.
"We're trying, Amelie and I, to get [Andy] to be more comfortable at the net and more aggressive," said Bjorkman. "At big tournaments it's hard to do that straight away. But there's no doubt he has the potential to do it. He has the legs, he's one of the fastest guys out there, he's super strong and he can attack in behind when he's under pressure. Even against someone like Roger that is a good way to play. It puts off the guy who wants to come in. A way to beat someone who is very aggressive is to be very aggressive yourself."
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