Andy Murray
With a bucketful of points to defend from his Madrid Masters win and a semi-final appearance at the French Open last year, second seed Andy Murray has a lot on his plate and a very unfamiliar situation to deal with. This is the first time that there will be burgeoning expectations from the Scot on his least favourite surface.
Since he reached the Australian Open final in January, he very much flattered to deceive on his return to the Tour post his daughter’s birth. Two early exits followed from two of the most elite stops – Indian Wells and Miami. Perhaps it was a repercussion of the emotional changes going on in his life and that is understandable.
But now, Murray should be back in full flow. Would we be able to witness that inspiring and energized brand of tennis on clay that he so held us in awe with last year?
The draw that he has been blessed with should present him a chance to do it. Doubles exponent Pierre-Hugues Herbert in his opener and 16th seed Benoit Paire – his potential Round of 16 rival – are opponents he can negotiate easily.
His first big test is supposed to come in the form of either Tomas Berdych or Milos Raonic in the last eight. Murray has won his last three encounters against both of them which should boost his confidence to aim for a semi-final berth.
Eight-time champion Rafael Nadal or 2014 winner Stan Wawrinka looms large in the semi-finals. The World No. 2’s last win over Nadal is more recent as he beat the Spaniard on clay last year but if it is Wawrinka, Murray has to go all the way back to 2012 to check his last victory over the Swiss.
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