• French Open

Murray revved up for Gasquet clash

ESPN staff
May 22, 2010
Andy Murray is aware he faces a fight against Richard Gasquet © Getty Images
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Andy Murray is relishing the prospect of his daunting first-round clash with Richard Gasquet in the French Open.

Murray was handed arguably the toughest first-round assignment of any of the top seeds at Roland Garros, with Gasquet a former top-ten player who is looking to rebuild his career. The Frenchman will be roared on by a partisan Parisian crowd and Murray is aware he will have to be on his mettle.

"It's going to be a great atmosphere and it's going to a fun match to play in," Murray said. "For a long time he's been France's favourite to win a grand slam because he was unbelievably good when he was playing the juniors and then, obviously, he had some great wins when he first came on the tour so it's going to be a very, very difficult match. But whether it's a first round or a third round, it doesn't really make a huge difference - you should be ready for whoever you've got to play from the first match.

"The one thing I know is that it's not a match I'm going into being the favourite, which probably hasn't happened in a slam for quite a few years. So it will be a different sort of feeling.

"Obviously with him playing at home in front of his home supporters and crowd, I'll have to deal with that and make sure I'm ready for it. I'll definitely be focused for the match and be ready to play five long sets if I have to."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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