Andy Murray has been advised to skip the French Open to focus on Wimbledon by serial SW19 runner-up-turned-champion Goran Ivanisevic.
Croatian Ivanisevic reached three Wimbledon finals – in 1992, 1994 and 1998 – before winning in south west London 12 years ago, and he believes Murray’s chances of claiming a home grand slam victory will improve by missing Roland Garros if there is any doubt over his fitness.
The 26-year-old Scot, runner-up to Roger Federer at Wimbledon last year after being a three-time semi-finalist, is a doubt for the French Open due to a back problem and is still to decide if he will participate on the clay in Paris.
“He’s not the favourite in the French, a lot of guys can beat him there,” Ivanisevic told Press Association Sport at the re-launch of Unibet in the UK, where its ‘Unibet Summer of Sport’ ad campaign featuring Sir Ian Botham, Gavin Hastings and Ivanisevic was unveiled.
“I don’t know how bad his injury is. If he’s not 100 per cent I think he and Ivan (Lendl, Murray’s coach) will decide not to play, which is better.
“He can get ready for Wimbledon. His chance this year is huge and I don’t think he wants to risk it, playing in the French and injuring himself more.”
After losing four grand slam finals, Murray won the 2012 Olympics at Wimbledon and then the US Open title last autumn, but the French Open is a contest for two men, according to Ivanisevic.
The 2001 Wimbledon champion said: “Even if he (Murray) is 100 per cent fit, he’s not the favourite to win there, especially now.
“I have to go with (Rafael) Nadal. There’s only one guy who can beat him there, (Novak) Djokovic.
“He has to pray for weather like this, heavy (overcast). When it’s sunny it’s very tough to beat Nadal.”
Nadal has now won six of his eight tournaments, including Sunday’s Italian Open defeat of Federer in 68 minutes, since returning in February from a seven-month break due to a knee injury.
Ivanisevic said: “I knew he was going to come back. He’s Nadal, he’s too good a player.
“On clay he’s just too good. It doesn’t matter that Novak beat him in Monte Carlo, he came to Madrid, Rome.
“The Rome final it looked like I play him in the final, not Federer. When he’s fit he’s tough to beat.”