Surviving into the second week in Paris would be success enough for Andy Murray

James Olley
22 May 2009

Tim Henman is backing Andy Murray to one day become a major force at the French Open but at the same believes Rafael Nadal is on his way to becoming the best tennis player of all time on clay.

Murray has earned his highest seeding for a grand slam at No3 in this morning's draw after securing a hat-trick of ATP titles to continue last year's rapid climb up the rankings.

For all his progress, however, doubts remain about the 22-year-old Scot's ability on the game's slowest surface, with his best effort so far only taking him as far as the quarter-finals in Monte Carlo last month.

Spaniard Nadal swatted Murray aside with ease and Henman, who enjoyed his greatest success on the surface in the twilight of his career by reaching the semi-finals at Roland Garros in 2004, believes his successor as British No1should consider reaching the second week in Paris as a successful target when the tournament starts on Sunday.

Henman said: "Growing up, I did play on clay but not a massive amount. It's about adapting your game and working your strengths into your game plan.

"One of the big things on clay courts is movement. You need to be able to slide and retain your balance.

"Then I started to adapt my game better and one of the aspects in my favour was that there weren't guys chipping and charging, serve-volleying and playing the ball short to bring opponents in to the net. So, a lot of guys never had the rhythm they needed and that upset them.

"I just viewed it as a great challenge. I didn't have high expectations but some of my most satisfying performances were on clay.

"Andy's in a similar position in that he is a bit inexperienced on clay. He can play very well and the more time he spends on it, the better he will get.

"Playing in Barcelona on clay as he did when he was younger is all good foundation but there is a difference between practising and playing. That's where he will find out where he is. He played great in Monte Carlo and that got his toe in the water. This year, if he can get through to the second week, I think that will be a good starting point and then from there it will be interesting to see how he does."

Murray reached the third round in Paris last year before falling to Spain's Nicolas Almagro and the draw is littered with clay-courters whose inability to perform on other surfaces give them an artificially low ranking when the French Open comes around.

Comfort comes in the knowledge that, given their seedings, Murray cannot face Nadal until the semi-finals.

Although Roger Federer recorded his first tournament victory in seven months by beating the Spaniard in Madrid last week, that win came at high altitude and 24 hours after Nadal had battled through a gruelling four-hour marathon against Novak Djokovic. The Majorcan-born left-hander remains the man to beat as he searches for his fifth consecutive French Open crown but Henman believes Federer is not the crestfallen, tearful former No1 he appeared to be following his defeat in Australian Open this year.

"There's been a change of momentum between Roger and Rafa but when you set the benchmark that high - three majors in a year on three different occasions - there is really only one way you can go," said Henman.

"Nadal, Andy and Djokovic have played a part in that because they have improved their games and beaten Roger on occasions. But it is hard to stop Nadal because his game is so well suited to clay. His record is phenomenal. No one has seen anything like it.

"Bjorn Borg won six French Opens, so it's tough to put Nadal ahead of that but it is only a matter of time if he keeps going in the same vein.

"But there is no way I would write Roger off because he is too good a player. There is no doubt he hasn't played quite as well, and the knock-on effect of that is losing a few matches, but his mindset is as strong as ever.

"His goals may have changed, and I am sure there are certain tournaments that are no longer a priority, but when you look at Pete Sampras's record of 14 Slams and Roger is on 13, that's going to be a huge motivating factor.

"I thought it was brilliant when he cried at the Australian Open. Roger is the most emotional guy you could wish to meet. Let's not forget in 2003 when he won Wimbledon for the first time, Sue Barker was trying to interview him and he was crying his eyes out.

"When he lost, the emotion of the whole occasion and having been so close to winning got him. Crying like that showed who he is. It doesn't mean Nadal had broken him, it just shows how much he cares."