Andy Murray has switched his focus to the French Open as he bids to become the first British man to reach a final at Roland Garros since Bunny Austin in 1937.
The world No.2 has reached the final at least once at three Grand Slam tournaments, however, he has always come up short in Paris. Murray has reached the semifinals at the French Open three times in his career, including the two most recent editions of the event. Speaking about his ninth appearance at the tournament this year, Murray is hoping to become the first man from his country to win the title since 1935.
“To win in Paris would be great considering the surface. This year I am very motivated, this summer is so important. On clay I have been not winning very much, because it’s isn’t the surface I prefer, but in the last 18 months things have been changing. I hope to do better this year,” the two-time Grand Slam champion told Eurosport Italy.
Murray has endured success on clay within the past 18 months. Last year he won back-to-back titles in Munich and Madrid. At the Madrid Masters he crushed Rafael Nadal in straight sets to win the biggest title in his career on the surface.
Two contenders that will be standing in his way at Roland Garros will be Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Djokovic has already claimed four titles this year, including the Australian Open. Meanwhile, Nadal recently won the Monte-Carlo Masters. Throughout Murray’s career, he has played the two on 54 occasions (23 against Nadal and 31 against Djokovic) in what he called ‘the toughest rivalries’ of his career.
“In terms of results, Djokovic and Nadal have been the toughest rivals in my career. Against them, I’ve won important matches, but I’ve lost too. In the last two years, Novak has been the world no. 1 without any doubt and the toughest opponent for the rest,” Murray said.
Roland Garros isn’t the only event on Murray’s priority list. This summer he will be bidding to become the first man in history to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in the men’s singles event. The triumph in 2012 was a special moment for the 28-year-old, who was yet to win a Grand Slam title at the time.
“For me, winning the Olympic gold medal at home was fantastic. It was the most important competition I played. At that time, I had not won any Grand Slam title, it was the highest point I ever reached,” he recalled.
Murray will return to action in the first week in May at the Madrid Open where he will be hoping to defend his title. After missing part of this season for the birth of his child, the world No.2 will go to the Masters event in search of his first title this year.
