As has become annual custom in the run-up to the French Open, some of the event's most high-profile players were earlier this week invited to sing karaoke on French television. Previous years have attracted Roger Federer (who opted for Tina Turner's "Simply the Best") and Novak Djokovic ("I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor). This year produced somewhat of a coup: Andy Murray made his singing debut.
Not only is the stand-off-ish Scot rarely one for public displays of emotion off court, he has also suffered recently from a particularly bad run of defeats between the tramlines. So when Murray appeared in front of the camera to deliver a stationary rendition of Michael Jackson's "I Want You Back", the joke was he could very well have been singing about his match-winning form. Murray, before Monday's battling victory over the French favourite Richard Gasquet, had triumphed in just seven matches from his previous six tournaments. Indeed, after falling to Federer in the final of the Australian Open in January in straight sets, he went on to suffer three consecutive defeats for the first time in four years, with the third - a 6-2, 6-1 demolition by German Philipp Kohlschreiber in Monaco - seeing him drop to No 5 in the official ATP world rankings.
His poor performances also happened to follow comments by John Lloyd, the former British Davis Cup captain, who criticised Murray for failing to show commitment to his country's hopes of winning the competition. Murray conceded in the post-match press conference in Monte Carlo that his game was "rubbish" and Brad Gilbert, his coach, referred to his charge's form as a "mini-slump". Since then the 2008 US Open finalist has lost in the early stages to David Ferrer in both Rome and Madrid and came precariously close against Gasquet.
Murray said after on Monday night that he was suffering from knee trouble on the French clay and revealed that, as a 16 year-old, he was diagnosed with a bipartite patella - a split knee-cap. The injury will be seen as an easy excuse by some, but the fact Murray chose to disclose the condition after beating the crowd's favourite will go a long way in keeping them quiet. It was an impressive victory, no doubt: battling, gutsy and unyielding. And with six weeks between now and the end of Wimbledon - and with Melbourne a distant memory - the Scot will be desperate to regain some pride. Monday's win will have certainly helped, but what Murray requires now is to continue winning and gather much-needed momentum.
Juan Ignacio Chela was due to be his opponent on Court One last night; a player the No 4 seed comfortably defeated two weeks ago in Madrid. Rain delayed much of the day's action including Murray's match, yet the Scot is unlikely to grumble: he will be confident that, having seen his knee given a short reprieve, he will be able to today negotiate his way past a player that he has met six times and beaten five and book himself a third round tie with either Marcos Baghdatis or Marcel Granollers (the game is scheduled to take place tonight).
Murray has said in the past that, of the four majors, the French Open is the slam he is least likely to win - despite proclaiming a love of clay that dates back to his participation on Barcelona's junior circuit. Of course, his plight at Roland Garros is not helped by his right knee taking a battering on the slippery red clay and the fact Rafael Nadal has appeared invincible on the surface for much of the past five years. But any way you look at it, the result is that regardless of today's outcome, Wimbledon will likely appear a more realistic target. Although that's not to say a conclusive victory over Chela today would fail to have Murray singing again. @Email:gmeenaghan@thenational.ae