ROME (Reuters) - Andy Murray's knife-edge semi-final defeat by Novak Djokovic has convinced the Briton that this year he has got his grand slam timing right and that the French Open and Wimbledon are both realistic targets.
Murray came within two points of ending Djokovic's unbeaten start to the year at the Rome Masters on Saturday. The world number four served for the match only for the Serb to come back and clinch a 6-1 3-6 7-6 tie-break victory.
"I could win the French if I play my best tennis and prepare mentally and physically," said Murray, who celebrated his 24th birthday on Sunday.
"I think I'm playing better than ever before on clay," he told reporters. "I've got the right combination of how to play and there are a few things I can definitely do better."
Murray had a run of desperate results following his final defeat by Djokovic at the Australian Open at the start of the year but he believes his recovery is now right on schedule.
"Tennis never goes, you know," said Murray.
"If I can keep learning from my mistakes then I think I can go higher but I do not feel that at any stage I was in a crisis. I just needed to snap out of the mental state and then I was going to come back strong from it."
Murray admitted he had made mistakes planning his year in the past but would now be focusing on the four grand slams.
"I feel now that I am fresh going into the French," he said. "I was doing very well in the Masters Series and not doing very well in the Slams.
"I've definitely made mistakes getting ready in the past but I do feel now going into the French and Wimbledon that I am going to play my best tennis."
Murray came within two points of ending Djokovic's unbeaten start to the year at the Rome Masters on Saturday. The world number four served for the match only for the Serb to come back and clinch a 6-1 3-6 7-6 tie-break victory.
"I could win the French if I play my best tennis and prepare mentally and physically," said Murray, who celebrated his 24th birthday on Sunday.
"I think I'm playing better than ever before on clay," he told reporters. "I've got the right combination of how to play and there are a few things I can definitely do better."
Murray had a run of desperate results following his final defeat by Djokovic at the Australian Open at the start of the year but he believes his recovery is now right on schedule.
"Tennis never goes, you know," said Murray.
"If I can keep learning from my mistakes then I think I can go higher but I do not feel that at any stage I was in a crisis. I just needed to snap out of the mental state and then I was going to come back strong from it."
Murray admitted he had made mistakes planning his year in the past but would now be focusing on the four grand slams.
"I feel now that I am fresh going into the French," he said. "I was doing very well in the Masters Series and not doing very well in the Slams.
"I've definitely made mistakes getting ready in the past but I do feel now going into the French and Wimbledon that I am going to play my best tennis."
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