Last Updated: Sat, 03 May 2008 17:09
Andy Murray could face a showdown with clay-court king Rafael Nadal if he reaches the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters.
The British number one is looking to get his French Open preparations back on track after Tuesday's disappointment of crashing out in the first round to Mario Ancic in Barcelona, after an encouraging start to the clay-court season in Monte Carlo.
The Scot won two matches on his debut on clay this term before losing to Novak Djokovic in the Principality but was unable to build on the start in Catalonia.
With the Roland Garros showpiece rapidly approaching, the top players are trying to fine-tune their game and Murray will play a qualifier in the first round in the Italian capital, with Marat Safin or Stanislas Wawrinka waiting in round two.
Nadal, who appears almost invincible on his favoured slow surface, would then most probably be Murray's opponent in the next round, and the Brit would have to dig deep to stay with an opponent who will be looking to make it four successive titles in Paris at the start of June.