"I would think it to be a masterstroke, as it was when Murray took on Lendl. If I was Sascha, I would definitely knock on Lendl's door"
Monday 2 April 2018 14:26, UK
Ivan Lendl would be a 'masterstroke' coaching appointment and form a great partnership with Alexander Zverev, says Greg Rusedski.
The talented 20-year-old missed out on his third Masters 1000 title as he suffered a defeat to John Isner in the Miami Open final on Sunday, after reports emerged over the weekend of a potential link-up with Lendl.
Zverev, who split up with former French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero in February, was watched by the American at Crandon Park and could be set for a return to coaching, after parting ways with Andy Murray for the second time last November.
Lendl enjoyed two fruitful spells as Murray's coach, during which he helped the British player win three Grand Slam titles and reach the summit of men's tennis.
"I would think it to be a masterstroke, as it was when Murray took on Lendl at the beginning [2012]," Rusedski, who sees similarities between Zverev and the two-time Olympic gold medallist, told Sky Sports.
"Ivan was one of the hardest workers. Technically and tactically he was brilliant. He will hire the right people around him [like] sport psychologists.
"Murray's game wasn't aggressive enough until Lendl came on. He improved the second serve, forehand and the smash and that is similar [to the improvements needed] with Sascha Zverev.
"With Lendl it is my way or the high way usually so it has got to be working together as one. He really got Andy to be more aggressive, stepping into the forehand.
"You look at Sascha - he is very open-stanced, his feet don't move up to the ball and the preparation looks a little odd. Lendl was one of the most disciplined and hardest working players out there so he doesn't leave any stone unturned.
"If he can get Lendl to sign on the dotted line, do it immediately. I think that would be a great partnership if Ivan accepts it. He is very good at cleaning up players games, whether it is technically or tactically.
"If I was Sascha I would definitely knock on his door because I think Lendl could possibly take him up to the next level."
Zverev enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2017 to capture his first two Masters 1000 titles in Rome and Montreal but has struggled to impress on the major stage and is yet to progress past the opening week at either of the four Grand Slam tournaments.
"He has won at every level bar the majors, where he hasn't been into the second week and tennis players' careers are defined by how they do at the majors." Rusedski added.
Zverev is coached by his father and has developed physically under the guidance of Murray's former fitness coach Jez Green but Rusedski is adamant an experienced voice in his team - such as Lendl - would help the German make the breakthrough at the Grand Slams.
"Jez Green has done a great job with him over the past four years. I still think he is another year to two years away from complete physical progress but for me the big question mark is he needs a world class coach to travel with him.
"After the parting company with Juan Carlos Ferrero I think he needs to take a step up with a proven commodity that has taken someone to the top.
"He doesn't have the t-shirt in that department yet and if he wants that then he seriously needs to find a world class coach, who has done it before, he respects and knows the road to getting to the top."
Greg Rusedski was speaking during Sky Sports' live coverage of the Miami Open final and to Mathieu Wood.
You can watch repeats of the ATP Miami Open final throughout the day on Monday and we'll be back for more tennis on Monday, April 16 for the start of the ATP Monte Carlo Rolex Masters with coverage underway from 9.30am on Sky Sports Arena.
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