• French Open

Becker challenges Murray to emulate Djokovic

ESPN staff
May 31, 2011
Andy Murray is locked at 2-2 with Viktor Troicki © Getty Images
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Andy Murray will head into a one-set shootout with Viktor Troicki at the French Open on Tuesday, urged by Boris Becker to blaze an identical trail to current world No. 2 Novak Djokovic.

Murray rallied from a two-set deficit against Troicki to level at 2-2 before time was called in Monday's fourth-round encounter. The British No. 1 returns on Tuesday, first up on Court Suzanne Lenglen, bidding for a place in the quarter-finals against Juan Ignacio Chela.

A maiden grand slam still eludes Murray, who started the year by losing the Australian Open final to Djokovic. Since then the Serb has remained unbeaten, winning Masters titles in Rome and Madrid, and he is closing in on the game's world No. 1 spot.

Murray, 24, is the same age as Djokovic, and the pair's careers have always been closely connected. A couple of years ago it appeared Murray had moved ahead of his rival in the pecking order, but Becker insists it is time to be inspired by the phenomenal form of Djokovic.

"He's been one game away. It's very close," Becker said of Murray's grand slam pursuit on Radio 5 Live. "He has the talent, but something has been stopping him from going all the way.

"He has to want to do it, then it's just a matter of a few details - getting fitness together at the right time, getting a good draw.

"If you look at Djokovic the last couple of years, he was floating around from three to five [in the world rankings] then all of a sudden... he has just overtaken everybody.

"I strongly believe this should stimulate Andy Murray."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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