• French Open

Murray looking for swift progress against Nieminen

Andy Murray avoided any real drama against Tatsuma Ito © PA Photos

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Andy Murray insists his late start at Roland Garros will not hamper his French Open campaign as he prepares to take on second round opponent Jarkko Nieminen.

Murray had to wait until Tuesday to play his first-round match, but having dispatched Tatsuma Ito in straight sets, he is confident it will not be a disadvantage should he make it deep into the second week.

"If you play a long match in the first round it probably wouldn't be ideal, but I play every second day, so that helps," he said. "You've got a bit of a routine.

"But you'd rather work. If you start on Sunday and play through to the other Sunday, you're playing seven matches in 15 days and I'll be playing seven in 13.

"So it's probably better to play earlier matches, but providing you get through the first rounds without playing any really long matches, it shouldn't make too much of a difference."

Murray will be hoping to spend minimal time on court when he takes on Nieminen on Thursday. The British No. 1 has won all three previous encounters, although he has never faced the Finn on clay. Nieminen upset former world No. 1 Andre Agassi at Roland Garros back in 2005, and Murray is not underestimating his opponent.

"The surface obviously changes things," he said. "He'll do certain things better and certain things not so good. I've practised with him on clay before, and I've always normally enjoyed playing against left-handers.

"He's got a lot of experience, and he's won some good matches here in the past. He beat Agassi here. He's not scared of causing an upset."

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