Llodra knows he must put in a vintage display to stun Andy Murray

Michael Llodra believes his only hope of upsetting Andy Murray tonight is to attempt a high-risk serve-volley assault that he admits could fail spectacularly on centre court.

Murray and the French doubles expert have been waiting three days to play this first-round US Open match and with thunderstorms threatening to disrupt play, there is no guarantee it will be completed.

However, with world No49 Llodra ready to charge the net at every opportunity, a short match seems inevitable. Llodra has lost all three previous matches against Murray — the last being at the 2012 Australian Open — and he accepts the defending champion is now a special player.

“Before, he was playing well but there were periods in matches, maybe for only 10 minutes, when he did not play so well and you had your chances to beat him,” said Llodra. “Now he’s one of the best athletes on the Tour.

“He’s one of the best returners in the world but I have to stick with my serve and volley. I cannot possibly play from the baseline against a player like him.”

Llodra is 33 and having set up a wine growing business with fellow French player Arnaud Clement, you get the impression he is winding down his tennis career.

“Wine is my passion,” he said. “I opened a wine bar in Dijon last year with Arnaud. We own a vineyard in Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy which we’ve tried to develop but it’s expensive. It’s premier cru. We produce 5,000 bottles a year.

“If Andy was a wine he’d probably be a sweet wine — a Sauternes, like a Chateau d’Yquem or something like that. When you’re on the court against him you can feel it’s impossible to move him. When you watch him on TV you can see he doesn’t have a really big weapon but when you’re on the court you can feel something strong from him.”