Tennis

Aching Murray reaches French semifinals

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-06-02 11:13

Andy Murray of Britain reacts during his quarter-final match against Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris June 1, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

PARIS - His ankle is hurting and his next opponent is Rafael Nadal.

Ouch.

Fourth-seeded Andy Murray reached the French Open semifinals by beating Juan Ignacio Chela 7-6 (2), 7-5, 6-2 Wednesday, but he's not particularly happy with his game ahead of his match against five-time champion Nadal.

"I'm surprised I'm here, to be honest, because I haven't actually played that well," said Murray, who tore a tendon in his right ankle in the third round. "That's a very good sign for me, because a few months ago I was not playing well and losing badly. I haven't been playing that well. I'm in the semis of a Slam. That's a good sign."

After reaching the Australian Open final in January, Murray went through a four-match losing streak. But he is now enjoying his best clay-court season, having already reached the semifinals in Monte Carlo and Rome.

He lost to Nadal in Monte Carlo, but pushed the top-ranked Spaniard to three sets.

"I think in the buildup to the French I was playing very well, and now I'm going to have to get that level out on Friday and sustain it for a long period to beat Rafa," Murray said. "But I feel I can do it. It's just making sure that on Friday I will play my best tennis.

"I have to play a very consistent match, and I have to be mentally strong."

Murray already showed his mental resources this week when he came back from two sets and a break down to defeat Viktor Troicki in a fourth-round match that took two days to complete.