Andy Murray is enlisting the help of the world No1, Rafael Nadal, as he looks to regain top form over the next few weeks. The Scot begins his clay-court season here, searching for confidence having lost all three of his matches since losing the final of the Australian Open in January. He admits he may not find a new full-time coach until after Wimbledon and plans to use Adidas's Darren Cahill and Sven Groeneveld leading into the French Open. In the meantime who better than the world's best player to lend his old friend a helping hand?
The two men will practise together at the Monte Carlo Country Club and getting up close and personal with one of the best players ever to pick up a racket, on his favourite surface, at one of his favourite stops on the tour can surely be only of benefit to Murray. While Nadal said that he watches videos of his old matches to remind him how to play on clay; Murray said he would benefit by doing the same – of Nadal.
"You need to watch others to see what others do better," Murray said. "The one thing that Rafa does very well is his movement. Behind the baseline he moves diagonally back to the ball so he takes it at the highest point. If you move across the baseline too much, that's when the bad bounces can make you mis-hit the ball. You need to make sure that you always take the ball at the highest point. You can get away with half-volleys on hard courts and on grass but it doesn't work on clay."
This time last year Murray was whistled off court when he was beaten 6-2, 6-1 by Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany in his first match, a hangover from his defeat by Roger Federer in the 2010 Australian Open final. He says he is practising well and believes he is coping better with the disappointment of a third grand-slam final defeat, this time to Novak Djokovic, a man who has yet to be beaten this year.
Seeded No3 with Djokovic absent, Murray is due to begin his campaign against the Czech Radek Stepanek. His defeat by Kohlschreiber kick-started a turnaround in his fortunes last year. The Scot will hope his renaissance comes even sooner this time round.
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