Brit Murray ‘good enough to challenge Nadal and Federer’
BRITISH No1 Andy Murray is heading all the way to the top, according to the man standing in his way today at the French Open.
Italy’s Potito Starace, who faces Murray in round two, believes the world No3 has the potential to surpass the two men ranked higher than him: Spanish powerhouse Rafael Nadal and Swiss great Roger Federer. “He has beaten Federer three or four times, and beaten Nadal too. So he has a big, big chance of trying to get to No2 or No1,” said Starace. “It won’t be easy because Rafa has won four or five tournaments and he is not easy to beat on clay. But I think he Murray has a good chance.”
Murray showed how much he has improved on clay with an emphatic straight-sets triumph over Juan Ignacio Chela in the first round. However, it remains the Scot’s weakest surface and world No104 Starace is grateful for anything in his favour.
“It’s better for me to play him on clay – I have more chance here than on a hard court,” said the 27-year-old. “I’ve seen he has improved a lot on this surface so it will be tough.”
Fourth seed Novak Djokovic progressed to the second round yesterday when his opponent Nicolas Lapentti retired with an injury. Women’s fifth seed Jelena Jankovic reached round three with a win over Petra Cetkovska.