ANY MURRAY is using world No.1 Rafael Nadal for inspiration as he seeks to improve his clay-court game.

Murray will open the defence of his Madrid Open title against Italian Simone Bolelli later today but, with the tournament being switched to a clay-court event, the Scot is realistic about his chances of retaining his crown on his less-favoured surface.

The 21-year-old's last match on clay saw him suffer a 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 defeat to Juan Monaco in the second round of the Rome Masters a fortnight ago, and all of his 11 career victories have come on hard courts - including last year's Madrid Masters.

Murray is well aware that he needs to improve on the surface though, and it is Nadal who is providing him with his determination.

Nadal has been virtually unbeatable on clay, but he has been less successful on grass.

At least that was the case earlier in his career, as the Spaniard has adapted his game and in the past three years has reached the final of Wimbledon three times and also managed to win the title last year.

Murray said: "Everything he's done is pretty special. I think very few people would have thought he could have won Wimbledon and he's been in the final three years in a row."

RUGBY UNION: Scotland captain Mike Blair has got the British and Irish Lions call-up he craved.

Just 20 days after he became one of three current Six Nations skippers to be overlooked by the Lions, Blair has been called up as the squad's first injury replacement.

He takes over from broken ankle victim Tomas O'Leary, whose Lions hopes were shattered while on Magners League duty with Munster.

It is understood the scrum-half vacancy came down to a straight contest between 58 times-capped Edinburgh star Blair and Harlequins' England international Danny Care.