Andy Murray to Build Up Leg Strength for French Open

For Andy Murray everything is carefully calculated. His development since Wimbledon last year has been rapid, Murray achieving a level of consistency and excellence on hardcourts, and indoors, that has seen him dramatically close the gap on Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic. But as the French Open nears, he remains mindful that on clay he lags considerably behind the trio in terms of experience and success.

By reaching the semi-finals against Nadal in Monte Carlo, and for a few games rocking the undisputed King of Clay, he confirmed his potential, while the defeat here in Rome yesterday against Argentina's Juan Mónaco, who has now reached the quarter-finals with a 6-4,6-4 victory over Croatia's Marin Cilic, underlined the fact that Murray, for the time being, is more vulnerable on clay than any other surface. But that will change.

"On hard courts it's a bit easier to find a player's weakness. On clay, because the ball sits up a lot more, it's tough to get through the court and apply pressure," said Murray. "You need to have more of a set pattern to get into position, so that if there's a short ball you can really go for a weakness. I started to find it against Rafa in Monte Carlo, and against Monaco I started well but I just couldn't keep it up."

Murray admitted to being a little tired mentally at the moment, and in need of a break. "I didn't have that much time in between winning the title in Miami and the beginning of the clay-court season." He will have a few days clear of tennis and training this week, and then concentrate on building up his leg muscles prior to the start of the Madrid Masters a week this Sunday, the last major test before Roland Garros.

"You need to have strong legs on clay, to be able to last for four hours and to shift your balance when you're sliding. So I'll do some work on that and try and give myself a bit more balance," the Scot explained.

Nadal has suggested that Murray may, ultimately, be in a position to challenge for the French Open title. However Murray will set his sights a little more conservatively this year, aiming to improve on last year's third-round defeat, and perhaps reach the second week.

Djokovic, who must retain his title here to prevent Murray claiming the world No3 spot, easily reached the last eight with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Spain's Tommy Robredo, and tomorrow plays the world No5 Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, who beat the 2008 runner-up Stanislas Wawrinka, of Switzerland, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3.