Nadal hails British star Murray

Updated 11.35 Thu Oct 18 2007

Keywords: Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, tennis, sport

Andrew Murray could have been challenging for a top-two spot in the world rankings if he had not been struck down by injury.

That is the view of world number two Rafael Nadal, who believes Murray's three-month spell on the sidelines with a wrist injury cost him.

"In my opinion, if he did not have the problem in Hamburg he might have been at this moment the number two, three, four, five, six in the world" - Rafael Nadal

Murray had broken into the top ten before he suffered the injury in Hamburg in May.

And Nadal believes the 20-year-old from Dunblane could have been challenging the world's biggest names.

The Spaniard said ahead of their meeting in the third round of the Madrid Masters: "In my opinion, if he did not have the problem in Hamburg he might have been at this moment the number two, three, four, five, six in the world.

"It was disappointing for him but now he is fighting for a good end to the season. He has played very well in the last two tournaments."