Wednesday 29th October 2008
Andy Murray heads into his opening match in Paris backed by a ringing endorsement by the world's leading player.
The Scot, bidding to win his third straight tournament as well as his third Masters Series title on the bounce, takes on American Sam Querrey in the second round in Bercy on Tuesday. Such is his form and confidence at the moment, few would bet against Murray ripping through a world-class field in the French capital to make another statement of intent ahead of 2009, when a grand slam title will definitely be on his to-do list. Rafael Nadal, the Spaniard who achieved the impossible and knocked Roger Federer off the top of the world rankings this year, has labelled Murray a "complete" player and believes the 21-year-old from Dunblane is here to stay. When asked by French daily L'Equipe which player had impressed him most in 2008, Nadal had no hesitation in responding: "Murray."
"He has just proved in these last few months that he can win the big tournaments, whoever is in his way."
"He is a massive talent, with a complete game and both an aggressive shot and a containing shot.
"He makes it all look so easy."
Murray has claimed successive Masters Series crowns, in Cincinnati and Madrid, but may have to beat Nadal and world number two Federer in Paris this week if he is to complete a stunning hat-trick.
However, fresh from his comfortable success in St Petersburg, where he hardly broke sweat in retaining the trophy and securing his fifth title of the year, he is in good shape mentally and physically, a remarkable feat given he is so deep into the season.
Taking five weeks off after the US Open, where he made the final only to lose to Federer, has left him with a spring in his step at a time when many - such as Marat Safin, a first-round loser in Paris yesterday - are desperate to go on holiday.
After Paris, Murray has the season-ending Masters Cup, a tournament he has qualified for for the first time, in Shanghai to look forward to. "I wanted to make sure I felt ready to play at my best in Madrid, St Petersburg, Paris and Shanghai," he said after last week's triumph in Russia, where he defeated Kazakhstan's Andrey Golubev 6-1 6-1 in a 58-minute final.
"When you win matches like this, it keeps you very motivated, especially when I can win without playing many games."
Querrey progressed through to an encounter with Murray when his first-round opponent, Marcos Baghdatis, was forced to retire with a back injury with the match delicately poised at 3-2 in the deciding set. Given the form Murray is showing, his fellow 21-year-old should not pose too many problems, although the world number 41 from Santa Monica has enjoyed a career-best year, winning in Las Vegas and reaching the semi-finals in Delray Beach and Indianapolis.
Querrey is under no illusions as to the size of his task, saying after his defeat of Baghdatis: "Andy's arguably the best player in the world right now so it's not going to be easy."
Murray has won both their previous meetings, in Rhode Island in 2006 and in Cincinnati this year. Britain's number one has followed up that second-round victory in Cincinnati at the end of July with a run of 22 wins in 24 matches, his only defeats in the past three months coming in the Olympics to Yen-Hsun Lu and at Flushing Meadows to Federer.
Andy Murray heads into his opening match in Paris backed by a ringing endorsement by the world's leading player.
The Scot, bidding to win his third straight tournament as well as his third Masters Series title on the bounce, takes on American Sam Querrey in the second round in Bercy on Tuesday. Such is his form and confidence at the moment, few would bet against Murray ripping through a world-class field in the French capital to make another statement of intent ahead of 2009, when a grand slam title will definitely be on his to-do list. Rafael Nadal, the Spaniard who achieved the impossible and knocked Roger Federer off the top of the world rankings this year, has labelled Murray a "complete" player and believes the 21-year-old from Dunblane is here to stay. When asked by French daily L'Equipe which player had impressed him most in 2008, Nadal had no hesitation in responding: "Murray."
"He has just proved in these last few months that he can win the big tournaments, whoever is in his way."
"He is a massive talent, with a complete game and both an aggressive shot and a containing shot.
"He makes it all look so easy."
Murray has claimed successive Masters Series crowns, in Cincinnati and Madrid, but may have to beat Nadal and world number two Federer in Paris this week if he is to complete a stunning hat-trick.
However, fresh from his comfortable success in St Petersburg, where he hardly broke sweat in retaining the trophy and securing his fifth title of the year, he is in good shape mentally and physically, a remarkable feat given he is so deep into the season.
Taking five weeks off after the US Open, where he made the final only to lose to Federer, has left him with a spring in his step at a time when many - such as Marat Safin, a first-round loser in Paris yesterday - are desperate to go on holiday.
After Paris, Murray has the season-ending Masters Cup, a tournament he has qualified for for the first time, in Shanghai to look forward to. "I wanted to make sure I felt ready to play at my best in Madrid, St Petersburg, Paris and Shanghai," he said after last week's triumph in Russia, where he defeated Kazakhstan's Andrey Golubev 6-1 6-1 in a 58-minute final.
"When you win matches like this, it keeps you very motivated, especially when I can win without playing many games."
Querrey progressed through to an encounter with Murray when his first-round opponent, Marcos Baghdatis, was forced to retire with a back injury with the match delicately poised at 3-2 in the deciding set. Given the form Murray is showing, his fellow 21-year-old should not pose too many problems, although the world number 41 from Santa Monica has enjoyed a career-best year, winning in Las Vegas and reaching the semi-finals in Delray Beach and Indianapolis.
Querrey is under no illusions as to the size of his task, saying after his defeat of Baghdatis: "Andy's arguably the best player in the world right now so it's not going to be easy."
Murray has won both their previous meetings, in Rhode Island in 2006 and in Cincinnati this year. Britain's number one has followed up that second-round victory in Cincinnati at the end of July with a run of 22 wins in 24 matches, his only defeats in the past three months coming in the Olympics to Yen-Hsun Lu and at Flushing Meadows to Federer.
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