This morning Marcel Du Coudray will have a hit with Nikolay Davydenko and reinforce the message that if he executes his game plan then he can win. Andy Murray, the world No.4, lies in wait.
"Andy has numerous ways to win," says Du Coudray. "His physical strength and his ability give him options. Nikolay has a way of playing and if he does that well he can win."
Du Coudray will today sit in Daydenko's corner but he also has the strongest of Caledonian connections. The South African is the head coach of the Scottish Tennis Academy based at Merchiston and St George's School for Girls in Edinburgh. He must therefore plan the downfall of the 25-year-old Scot at Wimbledon while using him as an inspiration for the youngsters he strives to improve.
Du Coudray believes Murray is one of the players who are performing "remarkable, breathtaking deeds" on court while providing his young players with a substantial motivation.
"Andy's success means that young Scots are saying: 'If he can do it, why can't I do it?"' says Du Coudray, who ran a tennis academy in Pretoria before moving to Scotland. His link with Davyddenko began six years ago when Du Coudray's wife, who is Polish, was helping to organise an ATP Tour event in her homeland. The Russian spoke and hit with Du Coudray and then won the tournament in Sopot. A partnership was thus formed, with Du Coudray spending time with Davydenko on tour.
"I did a training block with him in December but more often it is just about meeting him on tour and talking through technical issues," says Du Coudray. "He is a very good athlete and moves incredibly well. He has an undimmed desire to be a better player and has a great work ethic."
Daydenko's unrelenting scurrying and assured strokeplay once took him to No.3 in the world and he won the Barclays ATP Tour finals at the O2 Arena in 2009. He has been badly affected by injuries, however, and the tennis world has moved on.
Du Coudray, though, believes the player is coming back to his best. "It is all about fine-tuning now," he says. "These guys play each other so much so the process is not about coming up with an innovative strategy it is about reinforcing what Nikolay does well and minimising his failings. If Nikolay plays well then Andy will have to worry about him. If Andy plays well, then it is Nikolay who will have to worry."
Du Coudray's admiration of Murray is enhanced by watching his influence on his young Scottish players. The coach's students include Morven McCulloch, Calum Macgeoch, Joanna Henderson, Alice Keddie and Anastasia Mikheeva.
"Andy has simply and effectively provided a lot of motivation," he says. "I believe there are Scots who will make tennis their professional career and then there is another generation coming through on the back of it. We need more investment, more centres and we coaches are trying to improve so that there are future Andys and future Elenas [Baltacha]."
Du Coudray is committed to the long-term future of trying to improve Scottish players but his immediate priority will be to prepare Daydenko to upset Murray. "These players have different personalities but there are over-arching characteristics that seem to mark them all," he says. "They are very objective, very pragmatic."
Davydenko has a humorous, playful side that is reflected in his press conferences. After winning £916,000 when beating Juan Martin Del Potro to win the Barclays ATP World Tour finals in 2009, he was asked how many autographs he had signed that week. "None," he replied with a glint in his eye. Asked if would now spend his money on buying a flat in Moscow, he replied with some asperity that one could not purchase anything in Moscow for that paltry sum.
Today he will have a final consultation with Du Coudray, a hit, a stretch with his physio and stride out to play Murray. Du Coudray will then watch the Scot take on the inspiration for his students. It may be spectacular. It will certainly be interesting.
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