Abby Brammell

By Brad Gilbert

Sign of the times: but the French crowd will not be on Murray's side


Andy Murray 's French Open first round against Richard Gasquet on Monday is what I call a popcorn match - you want to get in a bucketful and just sit back and enjoy it.

This is going to be like a good movie in that you have an idea what the plotlines are but don't know the outcome.

Overall I would make Murray the marginal favourite but it is a very close one to call. Every set in a tennis match is important but in this encounter the opener is going to be especially vital because of two major factors in determining who wins - the state of Gasquet's fitness and the reaction of the crowd.

The Frenchman obviously comes in brimming with confidence after winning two consecutive tournaments, but he has played a lot of tennis in the past two weeks and is bound to feel that in his legs.

Therefore if the physically fresher Murray can win the first set - and guarantee that the match will have to go at least four - then it can only be to his advantage.

Winning the first set will also lessen the likelihood of the partisan crowd really getting behind their man and lifting him.

Gasquet's record here is poor and Roland Garros has never really taken to him. If they feel that he is disappointing them again then they might let him know.

By the same token Andy has to play this match with his best poker face on. The Parisian crowd can really turn on a player whose behaviour or demeanour they do not like, so he must keep as calm as possible.


Tired: Richard Gasquet asked for the match to be delayed until Tuesday


As it is expected to be a baking hot day, the conditions are likely to be quick and - combined with the fact that he does not want to get sucked into an attritional match - this makes me think Gasquet will play very aggressively.

The faster court works in his favour as he is a beautiful timer of the ball, which he hits so cleanly it sort of explodes off his racket. That is what makes him so dangerous.

There are two technical areas which I will be looking at closely. The first is Murray's first-serve percentage, which he needs to keep well above 50 to stop his opponent getting too many looks at his attackable second delivery.


Practice makes perfect: Murray reached the quarter finals in Paris last year


The other key area will be Andy's return of the second serve, usually one of his strengths. When he lost to David Ferrer in the Madrid Open 10 days ago I thought he was a bit too conservative, tending to push it back up the middle, which allowed the Spaniard to dictate the point from the off, something Gasquet can also do.

So you want to see the British player driving it up the line or across court, putting his opponent on the back foot and exploiting his movement on clay, which is not as good as it is on a hard court.

This pair's last-but-one meeting, at the Paris Indoors, was my final match as Andy's coach. He trails 1-2 in career meetings, but I am not sure that is relevant. A more interesting pointer is that Gasquet requested a Tuesday start. It is not a very smart move to have made that public knowledge and it will probably encourage Murray and his team.

Neither of these players is happiest on clay, although you would hardly know it by Gasquet's recent results. I think Murray should be able to just tough this one out and if he does, his draw thereafter is far from the worst he could have.


source: dailymail