Analysis for Murray-F.Lopez (ATP Monte Carlo)

Head-to-head record 1:0

Feliciano Lopez of Spain will play Andy Murray in Monte Carlo first round. It can be a very interesting match. Like many of the top Spanish players Lopez is left-handed, however unlike some of his compatriots he uses a single-handed backhand. He is known for his strong serve and ability to play balls repetitively on the baseline. He is also a confident net player and has been known to adopt the serve-and-volley routine of play during matches. Simply said, he is untypical Spaniard with the style of play suited to faster surfaces than clay. He made his best results on hard courts and in 2005 became the first male Spanish tennis player to reach the quarter-final of Wimbledon since 1972. On the other hand, we think he is still better clay-court player than his opponent. Murray is a natural born heavy hitter who adapts serve-and-volley style and prefers as fast surfaces as possible. He won just 2 ATP circuit matches out of 9 he has played on play since 2006. He trained hard in the off-season, working with fitness experts in Miami, leading Murray to say he had never been better prepared for a season. His hard work paid off immediately as he sealed his fourth career title at the Qatar Open. But then he lost in the first round at Australian Open. After his loss in the Australian Open he picked up a knee injury which also ruled him out of the Davis Cup match versus Argentina. He came back in a great style winning the tournament in Marseille. However, at his next tournament in Rotterdam he lost in the 1st round again. We are really curious about his current form but bearing in mind his latest clay-court results, we think that Lopez has a decent chance here. Odds above 2.5 can be tried.