Fourth-seeded Scot Andy Murray made a smooth transition from North American hard courts to European clay at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Tuesday, knocking out No. 35-ranked Victor Hanescu of Romania 6-3, 6-2 in just 86 minutes for a place in the third round of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tennis tournament.
Watched by two-time Roland Garros runner-up Alex Corretja, who is working as Murray’s clay-court consultant for a second successive year, the 21 year old won 74 per cent of first service points and converted five of 10 break point opportunities. Murray improved to 27-2 on the season, highlighted by three ATP World Tour titles and one runner-up finish.
"I thought I played well," reflected Murray. "I thought I moved pretty good and returned well. I hope with each match I just start to remember how to play on clay. I'm sure I'll keep getting better."
World No. 4 Murray has come into the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tennis tournament just 170 points behind No. 3 Novak Djokovic in the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings. He could supplant Djokovic as the third-best player in the world rankings on Monday, dependent on results this week. Murray next will meet either Italian qualifier Fabio Fognini or No. 14 seed Marin Cilic of Croatia.
The 27-year-old Hanescu, who captured his maiden ATP World Tour title at Gstaad (d. Andreev) in July 2008, dropped to 7-11 on the season that has been highlighted by two quarter-final exits at Doha (l. to Roddick) and last week in Casablanca (l. to eventual champion Ferrero). He falls to 3-16 lifetime against Top 10 opponents.
In Murray’s quarter of the draw, Argentine David Nalbandian avoided his third first-round exit this year by dealing French hopes yet another blow on day three.
Having watched sixth seed Gilles Simon and ninth seed Gael Monfils make an early trip to Nice airport, French support watched Nalbandian record his fourth straight win over Paul-Henri Mathieu, a former World No. 12, in two hours.
Nalbandian hit nine aces (and 10 doubles faults) in a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win that gave the World No. 15 just his 11th win of the season. In January 27-year-old Nalbandian clinched his 10th ATP World Tour title at Sydney (d. Nieminen).
(From Website : http://www.atpworldtour.com/TENNIS/1/EN/NEWS/NEWSARTICLE_3123.ASP)
