THE Murray brothers will fight for an Olympic title with the man regarded as the world’s best doubles coach in their corner.
Louis Cayer, the 63-year-old Canadian, has confirmed he will travel to Rio with Andy and Jamie Murray as they seek to frank a partnership that has already savoured Davis Cup success with gold in Brazil.
Cayer, who has already coached an Olympic gold medal winning team when Daniel Nestor and Sebastian Lareau in Sydney in 2000, believes the Scots have a “legitimate chance” of winning in Rio.
“I would expect about eight strong contenders,” said Cayer. “But Andy and Jamie play well together and have already achieved much together.”
Cayer, who will be travelling to his fifth Olympics as a coach, has bene pivotal in resurrecting the career of Jamie, who three years ago was considering retiring but could end this week in Indian Wells as the best doubles player in the world.
The coach revealed he had told the player three years ago that he could be a major winner but that Murray had to buy into what he was saying. “I laid my cards on the table and Jamie said: ‘Fine. I will follow your lead’.”
Murray, 30, has improved to such an extent that he is now ranked No.2 in the world and has contested the last three grand slam finals, winning in Melbourne in January with his partner Bruno Soares. The Brazilian will compete for gold with Marcelo Melo and will be one of the major rivals to the Scots. The Bryan brothers of the USA and Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland will also be formidable contenders.
However, the Murray brothers have been invincible in Davis Cup competition, winning all five ties they have played together, including the final in Ghent in November against Steve Darcis and David Goffin.
Cayer, who came to Britain in 2007 with a brief to improve men’s doubles tennis, is looking forward to working at the Olympics again with two players with whom he has formed a close relationship.
Speaking at Gleneagles Arena at a coaching masterclass sponsored by Speirs Gumley and organised by Judy Murray’s Tennis on the Road initiative, he described Jamie as the best volleyer in the world and said of Andy: “He iis the world No.2 in singles but he is now a complete doubles player.”
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