Andy Murray is confident that his game is at a higher level than last year as he bids to win his first title of the season at the Rome Masters.
The world No.3 dropped only three games against Lucas Pouille in his semifinal match to book a showdown with Novak Djokovic in the final. It will be the second meeting between the two within the past week after Murray lost to the world No.1 in the Madrid final last Sunday. The Brit will be aiming to end his four-match losing streak against Djokovic. Whilst his recent record against the Serbian might be a bit disheartening, Murray still believes that he is currently in a better shape than last year, when he won back-to-back titles on the clay prior to the French Open.
“I think I’m in a better place. I think I have made some improvements in my game,” Murray said shortly after his semifinal win in Rome.
“Last year I was winning a lot of matches at this time of year, but I do think I’m playing better tennis this year. I think my serve has been a big improvement for me.”
Murray’s serving was certainly in sublime shape during his encounter against Pouille as the two-time grand slam champion dropped just five points on his serve throughout the match, winning 91% of his first service points and 80% of his second.
This season Murray currently has a win-loss of 21-5 on the tour. Despite his impressive winning record, the 29-year-old has also encountered difficulties on the tour with early exits in Miami and Indian Wells. Those below-par results can be forgiven to an extent with Murray adjusting to life on the tour as a father following the birth of his first child in February.
The Rome final will be the last match that Murray will play before the French Open, which starts in eight days time. A British man hasn’t reached the final at Roland Garros since Bunny Austin in 1937. Murray has come agonisingly close with three semifinal appearances, including the last two years. Looking ahead to his ninth appearance in the tournament, Murray is confident that he has had the best preparation for the event.
“The French Open starts a week from tomorrow. You don’t really get much better preparation for a major event than playing against the best players in the world a week out,” the 29-year-old said.
“Obviously every time it’s a big challenge, but I do think that regardless of the final (in Rome), my preparation has gone extremely well for the French.”
Murray will be seeded second in the French Open following Roger Federer’s third round exit to Dominic Thiem earlier this week.
A win in Rome against Djokovic would reward Murray with his 12th Masters title and his first ever win over Djokovic on a clay in what would be a massive boost for him ahead of the pinnacle event of the clay court season.
