Murray starts top ten life by doubling up with his brother in Monaco

14 April 2012

Andy Murray will take the match court for the first time in Monaco as a top-10 ranked player.

The 19-year-old Scot teams up with older brother Jamie in the first round of the doubles at the Monte Carlo Masters in Monaco.

The British stars take on Polish duo Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski in today's final match on court two and Murray is looking forward to justifying his place among the tennis elite after moving up to 10th in the world courtesy of Tommy Haas' failure to reach the semi-finals of the US Clay Court Championships in Houston.

Murray told www.atpmastersseries.tv: "Unfortunately, it wasn't through myself winning a match, which would have been nicer but I'll take it anyway. "It's good - it's been a goal of mine for pretty much the last five years.

"That's something I've been working towards. I've had a very good start to the year.

"To get into the top 10 is a big deal for most players when they do it for the first time."

Murray is eager to make up for some disappointing displays last year on the clay, which is a surface on which he should be extremely comfortable have spent much of his tennis education in Spain.

He said: "Last year's clay-court season didn't go so well for me. But I'm playing much better than I did last year, I'm much stronger physically as well.

"I think my game is pretty well suited to clay so hopefully I can play well this year. I've been playing well in practise so hopefully I can transfer that on to the court."

Victory will see the Murrays take on fifth seeds Paul Hanley and Kevin Ullyett, who have a first-round bye.

That is also the case for Murray himself in the singles and the eighth seed will meet the winner of the clash between Frenchman Marc Gicquel and Germany's Florian Mayer.

Meanwhile, British number two Tim Henman is fourth on centre court today but faces a tough task to overcome 16th seed and clay-court specialist Juan Carlos Ferrero.

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