Rafael Nadal Looms Over Andy Murray's French Open Challenge
Andy Murray will need to win as many matches on clay as he has all season if he is to face Rafael Nadal in a French Open semi-final
The Andy Murray who was knocked out in the third round of the French Open by Spain's Nicolás Almagro here last year is hardly to be compared with the player who will step out on to the clay this Parisian spring. Since then he has reached his first grand slam final at the US Open, risen to No3 in the world, won six tournaments in the process, and is viewed by all his opponents as the most improved player in the top 10. That said, few would seriously suppose he will win his first major, his ultimate goal, on the courts of Roland Garros a fortnight tomorrow.
"I can get better on clay, and maybe challenge for the title in the next couple of years. I feel much more comfortable on it, and confidence is a big factor," said Murray, who reached his first clay court semi-final in Monte Carlo last month, losing to Rafael Nadal who is the overwhelming favorite to make history by winning his fifth successive French Open title.
Murray is in the same half of the draw as the Spaniard and will have to win as many matches over the next 10 days as he has all clay court season to date, namely five, if he is to achieve his seeded semi-final against him. Understandably, Murray was not inclined to look beyond his first round match against Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela. "He's a tough clay court player who had a bad back injury last year, and is now playing well again." Chela reached the French Open quarter-final five years ago, though has won only three matches at Roland Garros since, and has lost his last three matches against Murray in straight sets.
Murray's aim will be to cut the length of the rallies, and impose his much more varied game, though he was a little reluctant to pinpoint exactly what he would regard as success beyond his first-round meeting. "I want to play well. If I play well but lose in the second round it's not as though I'll be happy, but it won't be a failure." That said, he would be disappointed not to get into the second week, and a potential quarter-final against France's Gilles Simon.
Once again Murray will have Spain's Alex Corretja, twice a French Open semi-finalist, in his team, working alongside Miles Maclagan, his regular coach. "The good thing about having Alex around is that he knows just the sort of tactics that work on these sorts of courts and against certain players. He played most of his tennis at a high level and it makes his advice more valuable. I know I need to be aggressive."
Corretja may also have had a quiet word about the volatility of the French crowd who, famously, can turn on a player, even their own. "The crowds are very passionate, and I know they can be tough. You have got to be on best behavior when you play in Paris because they don't like racket throwing or shouting. If you are playing badly, it's not as though they help you through it. They try and get on top of you. It is just different. All the Slams are different and that is what makes them special," said Murray, who is not an inveterate racket smasher or line questioner, though he is not averse to a little drama from time to time, so he will need to be a touch careful.
Tim Henman reached the semi-finals here in 2004, arguably his finest achievement, so there is no reason why Murray, given his superior all round game, should not go one better, though not this year unless Nadal, who has never lost here, were to suddenly lose his invincibility, either against Murray or earlier, though both scenarios seem inconceivable.
"I can get better on clay, and maybe challenge for the title in the next couple of years. I feel much more comfortable on it, and confidence is a big factor," said Murray, who reached his first clay court semi-final in Monte Carlo last month, losing to Rafael Nadal who is the overwhelming favorite to make history by winning his fifth successive French Open title.
Murray is in the same half of the draw as the Spaniard and will have to win as many matches over the next 10 days as he has all clay court season to date, namely five, if he is to achieve his seeded semi-final against him. Understandably, Murray was not inclined to look beyond his first round match against Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela. "He's a tough clay court player who had a bad back injury last year, and is now playing well again." Chela reached the French Open quarter-final five years ago, though has won only three matches at Roland Garros since, and has lost his last three matches against Murray in straight sets.
Murray's aim will be to cut the length of the rallies, and impose his much more varied game, though he was a little reluctant to pinpoint exactly what he would regard as success beyond his first-round meeting. "I want to play well. If I play well but lose in the second round it's not as though I'll be happy, but it won't be a failure." That said, he would be disappointed not to get into the second week, and a potential quarter-final against France's Gilles Simon.
Once again Murray will have Spain's Alex Corretja, twice a French Open semi-finalist, in his team, working alongside Miles Maclagan, his regular coach. "The good thing about having Alex around is that he knows just the sort of tactics that work on these sorts of courts and against certain players. He played most of his tennis at a high level and it makes his advice more valuable. I know I need to be aggressive."
Corretja may also have had a quiet word about the volatility of the French crowd who, famously, can turn on a player, even their own. "The crowds are very passionate, and I know they can be tough. You have got to be on best behavior when you play in Paris because they don't like racket throwing or shouting. If you are playing badly, it's not as though they help you through it. They try and get on top of you. It is just different. All the Slams are different and that is what makes them special," said Murray, who is not an inveterate racket smasher or line questioner, though he is not averse to a little drama from time to time, so he will need to be a touch careful.
Tim Henman reached the semi-finals here in 2004, arguably his finest achievement, so there is no reason why Murray, given his superior all round game, should not go one better, though not this year unless Nadal, who has never lost here, were to suddenly lose his invincibility, either against Murray or earlier, though both scenarios seem inconceivable.
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