Skip to content

Andy Murray says he is in the best clay-court form of his career ahead of French Open

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Andy Murray is delighted with his clay form heading into the French Open

Andy Murray believes he is in the form of his life on clay as the world No 3 pursues a first French Open title in Paris.

Murray won his maiden clay-court title in Munich earlier this month and followed that up by beating Rafael Nadal in Madrid, his first ever win on the surface against the nine-time French Open champion.

A difficult Roland Garros draw has placed Murray in the same half as both Nadal and top seed Novak Djokovic but the Scot, who opens up against Argentine qualifier Facundo Arguello, can take confidence from his recent success.

"It's probably the best I have played on clay, for sure," Murray said.

"I never really felt particularly comfortable on the surface. Sometimes by the time I got to the French Open I started to feel good, but obviously winning tournaments and beating good players helps with the confidence.

"I just feel like I have an idea of what I'm doing on the court.

"Sometimes in the past I have not really known what was happening on the court and felt like I was struggling with my movement.

More from French Open 2015

"This year it doesn't feel like that. I feel like I'm moving well. I feel a lot freer on the court, my body feels good. That's positive."

I feel like I'm moving well. I feel a lot freer on the court, my body feels good. That's positive.
Andy Murray

Don't count Nadal out

Rafael Nadal in action during his match against Marsel Ilhan on Day Four of the Rome Masters
Image: Rafael Nadal: Has suffered one defeat in 10 years at Roland Garros

Nadal has lost only once in 10 years at Roland Garros but injuries, illness and a string of disappointing results have seen the Spaniard slip to seventh in the world rankings.

Djokovic, in contrast, has already picked up five tournament victories in 2015 but, while Murray believes the Serb is now favourite, he says it would be foolish to count Nadal out.

"(Nadal's form) changes things. Novak for me goes into the tournament as the favourite now," said Murray.

"But on that court Rafa's record is ridiculous.

"It's completely possible that he gets out there and feels great, especially if he gets himself into the tournament and wins his first few matches.

"He's going to feel better and better. He obviously loves the conditions here, although the courts this week have been extremely slow.

"If it gets warmer and starts to speed up, obviously he loves the conditions here.

"It would be stupid to write him off or suggest that he can't win the event - it's definitely possible that he could do that."

It would be stupid to write him off or suggest that he can't win the event - it's definitely possible that he could do that.
Murray on Nadal

If he beats Arguello, Murray may also have to overcome Australia's Nick Kyrgios, American John Isner and Spanish clay-court specialist David Ferrer in the quarter-finals.

Andy Murray - Possible route to French Open title 2015
Image: Andy Murray - Possible route to French Open title

Britain's Aljaz Bedene drew Austria's promising 21-year-old Dominic Thiem while in the women's draw, Heather Watson plays French wildcard Mathilde Johansson, ranked 224th in the world.

British qualifiers Johanna Konta and Kyle Edmund are also into the first round. Konta faces Czech Denisa Allertova and Edmund is up against France's Stephane Robert.

Around Sky