Andy Murray praises Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal – Tennis News
Great Britain’s top player and its only hope at Grand Slams, Andy Murray, has praised his rivals before starting his campaign at the French Open.
Murray hailed the King of Clay, Rafael Nadal’s record at the Roland Garros. The Brit thinks that Nadal is still going good at his favourite hunting ground and can win even more titles.
The Spaniard has already won six titles at the only Grand Slam that is played on clay courts. The 25-year-old is tied with one of the best clay court players of all time, Bjorn Borg, in the list of winning most Roland Garros titles.
He said, "I think the fact that he started at such a young age is what's most impressive. He won it when he had just turned 19. It's obviously still going as well. So I'm sure he'll have more great runs here. I'm sure he'll win
the event a few more times probably before he finishes."
Murray also praised reigning world number one, Novak Djokovic, as the Serbian prepares to start his quest of winning French Open and holding all the four Grand Slams at the same time.
Djokovic defeated Nadal in the final at each of the last three Grand Slams i.e. Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open. If he succeeded in capturing the French Open crown, the Serbian will become the first tennis player, since
Rod Laver in 1969, to hold all the four Majors at the same time.
Murray said about Djokovic, “There's a lot of records that guys have had in streaks. Guys have had incredibly impressive and very, very difficult things to do. So I don't know which one is better than the other. But if he was able
to do it, which I hope he's not, it would be an unbelievable effort."
If we talk about Murray’s preparation for the French Open, the Brit failed to impress at any of the three clay court events he played before the second Grand Slam of the season.
The Brit was beaten by Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych in three sets 7-6(4), 2-6, 3-6 in the quarter-final of Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters. He was stunned by rising player, Milos Raonic of Canada, in straight sets 4-6, 6-7(3) in the
last eight at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. Getting upset in the third straight tournament, he lost to Richard Gasquet in the round of 16 of Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
Murray is drawn to meet Japanese contender, Tatsuma Ito, in the first round.
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