Jim Courier believes Andy Murray can win French Open

Nine-time winner and reigning champion Nadal holds an incredible 66-1 record in Paris, with his only loss coming against Swede Robin Soderling in 2009.

But the Spaniard heads into this year’s tournament without being the favourite – many tipping world number one Novak Djokovic to be crowned champion for the first time in the French capital.

Concerns still remain over Nadal’s fitness and just one clay court title to his name in the build-up to Roland Garros has undermined the Spaniard’s self-belief.

Nadal goes into the year’s second Slam as on the seventh best player in the world and faces an almighty draw if he is to secure his tenth title.

Nadal was drawn on the same side as Djokovic, whom he’ll need to beat in the last eight, before a potential semi-final date with Murray.

And Courier believes the Scot can take advantage of Nadal’s crisis of confidence, using the win over the Spaniard in the final of the Madrid Open as inspiration to win his first French Open.

The double French champion said: “Andy is most certainly a threat to go very deep and, if the draw breaks in his favour, a final is attainable. Once you reach the final, anything goes — especially now that Nadal is playing like a mortal on the clay again.

“For the first time in many years Nadal will not be the favourite going into Roland Garros. That role is now firmly occupied by Novak Djokovic.

“Nadal is less vulnerable in Paris, given the best-of-five-set format which allows him time to problem solve, than he has been elsewhere, but there are now guys in the locker room who see him as an opportunity rather than an immovable obstacle.”

Murray begins his campaign against a qualifier, but could face a tricky quarter-final match-up against David Ferrer. Nadal or Djokovic would wait in the last four before a tantalising potential final against Roger Federer.