Big hitters put in Andy’s path
ADIFFICULT pathway was plotted for Andy Murray in yesterday’s draw for a French Open that has already had to contend with its share of intrigue.
Roger Federer withdrew on Thursday and he was followed on to the absentee list by Gael Monfils. Constant Lestienne had his wildcard withdrawn after it emerged he was being investigated by the Tennis Integrity Unit.
There could be more noises off, with Maria Sharapova’s tribunal ruling expected in the second week, and another female player expected to get caught up in the Meldonium farrago over the next few days.
The individual is scheduled to play in the main draw and is believed to have been found with traces of the drug in her system earlier this year.
However, the amount may have proved to be sufficiently small for her to be given an ‘amnesty’ under the WADA ruling resulting from doubts over how long the substance — declared illegal from January 1 — takes to the leave the body.
Murray faces qualifier Radek Stepanek in the first round, the veteran Czech who pushed him hard in Madrid.
After that, he could potentially meet giants Ivo Karlovic and John Isner in the third and fourth round, with Kei Nishikori in the quarter-final.
Do not expect an arrival of Ivan Lendl, as Murray reiterated yesterday that he is quite content with his current team led by Jamie Delgado.
‘With the way everything went in Rome and Madrid things are going well just now, so there’s no need to rush into anything,’ he said. ‘I’m happy with the work I have done with Jamie so far.
‘For the grass, there is a bit more time to try something but I haven’t spoken to anyone about it yet, except for my team.’
Murray is in the same half of the draw as defending champion Stan Wawrinka, while Novak Djokovic faces a potential semi-final against Rafael Nadal. Up to that point the world No1 has about the easiest draw possible.
Britain’s other male hopefuls, Kyle Edmund and Aljaz Bedene, kick off their challenges at Roland Garros against Nikoloz Basilashvili and Gerald Melzer respectively.
Meanwhile, in the women’s draw, Jo Konta begins her tournament against Germany’s Julia Goerges, Heather Watson faces off against her doubles partner Nicole Gibbs, Laura Robson plays 28th seed Andrea Petkovic and Naomi Broady faces Coco Vandeweghe.