Andy satisfied by feats on clay
Andy Murray said he couldn't wait to get playing on grass again after his third-round exit at the French Open.
Andy Murray said he couldn't wait to get playing on grass again after his third-round exit at the French Open.
But despite his four-set defeat to Nicolas Almagro on the surface he likes least, the RBS ambassador still believes his clay-court campaign has improved his chances of becoming Wimbledon champion.
"I'd love to win Wimbledon," added Andy. "I'm not saying it's going to happen. But I believe that if I play my best tennis I can win."
He didn't always play his best tennis in Paris. From the moment he lost his first service game to Almagro, who is ranked 20th in the world and is a recognised clay-court expert, Andy was always up against it.
He staged a second-set recovery with some impressive serving, and fought to the bitter end. However, the Spaniard took his record of clay-court wins to 28 for the year (Andy had just seven) with a 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, 7-5 win that was seldom in doubt.
His 'reward' was a last-16 clash with defending champion Rafael Nadal, who went on to destroy world number one Roger Federer 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 in the final.
Andy, meanwhile, reflected on his efforts. "I'm going to be one of the top players on clay in a couple of years," he said. "I just need a bit more experience, a bit more strength and a bit more understanding of how to play and I'll be up there with the best players.
"I play well on clay. To win against me on clay is a very good result. I'm not someone who's going to be taken lightly on this surface in the future."
In reaching the third round of the second Grand Slam event of the season, Andy swayed from the unconvincing to the brilliant.
He struggled to overcome the youngest player in the men's draw, French 17-year-old Jonathan Eysseric, 6-2, 1-6, 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 for the first win of his career at Roland Garros. However, he was a more comfortable 6-4, 6-0, 6-4 winner over Argentina's Jose Acasuso in the second round.
Meanwhile, Andy's elder brother Jamie, who is also sponsored by RBS, reached the quarter-finals of the mixed doubles with American partner Liezel Huber. However, they were beaten 6-0 7-6 (7-5) by third seeds and eventual winners Bob Bryan and Victoria Azarenka.
Jamie and playing partner Max Mirnyi lost in the opening round of the men's doubles to South African Rik de Voest and Dutchman Robin Haase.
