World number one Andy Murray looking to halt slippery slope at French Open
The Brit is enduring the worst start to a year by the top ranked player since Pete Sampras in 1999
After months of disappointment and a lack of motivation, Andy Murray is counting on the French Open to turn his season around.
In November, Murray became the first British man to reach world No 1 since the rankings were introduced in 1973.
The Wimbledon champion also became the first player to win a grand slam, the ATP World Tour Finals, the men’s singles at the Olympic Games and a Masters 1000 title all in the same calendar year.
Not surprisingly, it’s been a tough act to follow.
“I got to No 1 in the world at the end of last year and there’s been some times this year where it’s been difficult to keep up the motivation and set new goals,” Murray said.
Murray ended last year with 24 consecutive wins, but since then he has made early exits at Indian Wells, Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid in the worst start to a year by a world number one since Pete Sampras in 1999.