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French Open 2014: Andy Murray ready to renew 16-year-old rivalry with Gael Monfils

PARIS - NOVEMBER 12:  Gael Monfils (r) of France shakes hands with Andy Murray (l) of Great Britain after his 6-2,2-6, 6-3 quarter-final victory during Day
Image: Andy Murray and Gael Monfils have faced each other five times in their professional careers

Britain's Andy Murray is preparing to resurrect a rivalry going back 16 years as he gears up for Wednesday's French Open quarter-final against home favourite Gael Monfils.

The world No 8 first faced Monfils when they were aged just 10 and 11 respectively at a junior tournament in Rouen.

Frenchman Monfils triumphed in their semi-final clash but went on to lose to Murray's brother Jamie in the final

"Gael used to play with glasses and he had shaved hair, but quite a high cut," reminisced Murray, who is eight months Monfils' junior.

"He was just a great athlete, moved unbelievably well, always smiling on the court. He enjoyed playing in front of a crowd, even though it was a small crowd. When you're 10, 11 years old, playing in front of 40, 50 people feels like it's loads.

"Gael's just always been a great entertainer, and he's great for the sport."

Monfils added: "We grew up pretty much together. It's always fun to play against him. He's the same, he didn't change at all."

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Tough match

Wednesday's match will be the pair's sixth meeting but their first in three-and-a-half years, since Murray lost to his rival at the Paris Masters in 2010.

"It's a tough match," said Murray, who leads their head-to-head 3-2, a record which also includes a defeat at Roland Garros back in 2006. 

"I think in the Grand Slams he's played his best tennis here by far. He loves playing in front of a big crowd.

"He's a great athlete. Maybe the best we have had in tennis. It's going to be an exciting match. I'm sure there will be some fun rallies. There always is when I have played against him.

"We haven't played against each other for quite a while, so I'm looking forward to it."

Monfils, who grew up in Paris is in his fourth French Open quarter-final in six years, will have the vast majority of the fans behind him, but Murray said he was unfazed by a hostile crowd.

"Obviously it's difficult, but it's a great challenge. It's more like a Davis Cup atmosphere," he said

"It's an intense atmosphere but you can also feed off that as well.

"It's the quarter-finals of a slam. I don't care whether no one in the crowd wants me to win or everyone wants me to win. I will fight just as hard to try and get the right outcome."

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