GREG RUSEDSKI is an Arsenal fan who would quite happily have seen the back of Arsene Wenger this summer, but that doesn’t mean all the superstar coaches out there are past their sell-by date. 

When it comes to Ivan Lendl and the happy alchemy of his relationship with Andy Murray, Rusedski feels it is a success story which is set to run and run. 

For a variety of reasons, the Scot and his Czech mate spent four months apart from January to May, but no sooner were they together again prior to the French Open last month than Murray was piecing together his best tennis of the year so far on a promising run to the semi-finals.  

With the two men still in tandem for the grass court season – which, for Murray begins with a second-round match against Aljaz Bedene at Queen’s Club today – hope springs eternal for a third Wimbledon title. 

Rusedski – in Gleneagles last weekend to compete in the Brodies Tennis Invitational event – feels the dynamic of the relationship is simple. 

Plenty out there might try to second guess the psycho-logy of the World No.1 but Lendl is one of the few men out there who has been there, done it and got the T-shirt.

“Well, he hadn’t won a major until Lendl showed up,” said Rusedski. “Then when Lendl left he didn’t win another. Then Lendl shows up again and he wins another major and ends the year as No.1. It is no coincidence.  Jamie Delgado has done a great job, committing to 40 weeks a year, but what Lendl brings is different,” the former US Open runner-up said. 

“There are very few people who have been through what Andy has done, being World No.1 and winning multiple majors. But he still has to win five more majors to catch up with Ivan and I think that 
really benefits him. 

“All the best players look for great champions who can relate to what they are going through. That is what great players bring – passion, tactics, the psyche. You can’t question them because they have done it all.”

The last decade or so has been a golden one for men’s tennis but the summer of 2017 might just go down as the one which tops it all. 

With veteran duo Roger Federer and Nadal confounding everyone to reach the mid point of the year as the ATP tour’s top players and one Grand Slam each, the scene is set for a titanic struggle at SW19 between the sport’s old guard and their successors, Murray and Novak Djokovic. 

Throw in a supporting cast of the likes of Wawrinka and Milos Raonic, and emerging players like Nick Kyrgios, Alexander Zverev and Dominic Thiem and followers of the sport should be in for a treat.

Murray may be a man with a cause, making a point to those who have written him off after injury and loss of form.

“Andy has never been in need motivation,” said Rusedski. “He is one of the hardest workers out there. But he does like a challenge.

“He does like something extra out there to motivate him, so I can’t wait for this Wimbledon. Last year I thought it was Andy’s year. This year it is much more open. For Andy to win the title in back-to-back years would be fantastic.

“I think he would like to try to win all four majors. He looks healthy now and looks like he is playing well.

“These are very exciting times. You look at Andy’s year and think it has been a little bit of a struggle but he made such a push for No.1 last year, winning five events in a row. 

“In retrospect he should perhaps have taken a two-week holiday then started again at Australia, then he might not have got shingles. 

“But it looks like he has his mojo back, which is good timing ahead of the grass court season. 

“There is quite a lot at play here at Wimbledon, we don’t know quite who is best. But I would probably put Murray and Federer as the two guys gunning it out for the title.”