Tennis chiefs hit back at Murray just as young Scot risks being left behind

The unseeded Frenchman is just eight months older than Murray but is now looking forward to his first Grand Slam semi-final as a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory over David Ferrer set up a clash with Roger Federer.

With Novak Djokovic, one of Murray's closest friends from his junior days, up against defending French Open champion Rafael Nadal in tomorrow's other semi-final, the 21-year-old British No 1 must be wondering when his time is going to come.

Left behind: Andy Murray is in danger of being outgunned by his fellow players

Yes, he is the world No 11, but Djokovic is the Australian Open champion while Nadal, only a year older, is attempting to win a fourth successive title on the Roland Garros clay.

Murray is desperate to improve his Grand Slam record, having never got past the fourth round.

The sight of world No 59 Monfils dancing around Philippe Chatrier Court, throwing his sleeveless shirt to a wildly ecstatic French tennis crowd will no doubt make Murray even more determined to go deep into Wimbledon.

Success at SW19 would certainly allow Murray to restate his controversial views, revealed in his autobiography released yesterday, that too many British players get an easy ride on and off court and the National Tennis Centre is not used enough.

He also questions the employment of highly paid foreign coaches.

Lawn Tennis Association chief executive Roger Draper is unhappy with the criticism from the only British man inside the world's top 240.

He said: "Obviously Andy is fully entitled to his opinion, however, this is clearly a little confusing coming from someone who benefits as much as he does from our world-class facilities.

"The top name coaches that Andy talks about have not been brought on board solely to work with the British players, but to offer help and advice to our British coaches.

"The results on the women's side speak for themselves since Carl Maes and Nigel Sears came on board with their team of British and international coaches.

"Since Andy decided to part company with Brad Gilbert, Brad has been working with Alex Bogdanovic.

"In the last year, we have developed a comprehensive programme at the NTC and are confident that we are beginning to make the best possible use of the facilities both as a training base for players and as a tournament venue.

"The fitness of players has been an issue in the past which is why we have invested in world class sports science facilities and a dedicated team, which did not exist 18 months ago.

"The players are aware that a lack of discipline in any aspect of their lives will have a direct impact on the level of support that they receive from the governing body either through funding or access to the NTC."

Significantly, Monfils is part of a privately funded group of players called Team Lagardere, which works outside the French Tennis Federation.

"One of the key men in that team is Patrice Hagelauer, who found it impossible to sort out British tennis during his time as LTA performance director.

Beating world No 5 Ferrer has certainly given Monfils confidence, allowing him to dream of pulling off a shock victory over the top seed.

Monfils said: "I'm very happy I'll play a semi-final on the central court, but this is not my last objective.

"The first objective is to win against the No 1 in the world, and we'll see that later."

Federer has been more error prone than usual in this tournament and dropped the opening set of his quarter-final with Fernando Gonzalez before winning 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.

The Swiss star, in his 16th consecutive Grand Slam semi-final, said: "It's always a great pleasure being in the last four.

"This is where it gets interesting. This is when I hope to play my best and especially here at the French, which is supposed to be the toughest one for me.

"To make four in a row in Paris is a great accomplishment but this year I'm aiming for the title. It will be the ultimate test."