TIM Henman reckons Andy Murray has never played better on clay than he has this month but still only regards him as joint second favourite for triumph at Roland Garros this fortnight behind Novak Djokovic. While the Scot enjoyed a timely victory against the Serb in the final of the Rome Masters last weekend it was only his second win against his nemesis since the Wimbledon final in 2013. Henman feels that Djokovic, chasing the maiden French Open win which he desires to complete the set of majors, still deserves top billing.

"For me this is the best I have seen Andy play on clay," said Henman. "He made big, big strides last year, winning in Munich then winning a Masters series in Madrid where he beat Nadal. But this year, the consistency and quality of his play has been even better, the best I have ever seen from him on the surface. He is more aggressive from the baseline, but still making very few unforced errors. His movement looks fantastic, which is a great sign, because clay is a surface which has aggravated his back more than most.

"He is serving aggressively and hitting a lot of big serves at the right time and all of those ingredients have come together with a couple of really big wins," Henman added. "To beat Djokovic in Rome in a final of a Masters event on clay is great for raising his confidence.

"It will be tougher in a slam, obviously in best of five set matches, and Djokovic is obviously trying to win the one slam that he has never won. But Andy has been so consistent getting to the latter stages of the slams that he gives himself a great chance going into Roland Garros. Djokovic, though, still is the clear favourite for me, no doubt about it. You look at the world rankings and his consistency has been phenomenal but I would put Andy a close second, alongside [Rafa] Nadal and [Stan] Wawrinka."

Henman, meanwhile, has advised Murray to stick with his current coaching team for the foreseeable future and cast doubt over speculation about a reunion with his former mentor Ivan Lendl. The 41-year-old, who will play two exhibition events in Scotland this year, at the Brodies' legends invitational event at Gleneagles in June then the 'Andy Murray Live' show at the Hydro in September, believes current coach Jamie Delgado has a lot to offer and the triumph in Rome last week shows that his team is working smoothly since the departure of Amelie Mauresmo.

While Murray will go into Roland Garros with the help of Delgado, his usual fitness and physiotherapy staff and the occasional help of Davis Cup duo Leon Smith and Louis Cayer, he hinted in Rome that he could road test someone new during the grass court season. The suggestion that he was prepared to "compromise" over his training locations was seen as a potential olive branch to Czech legend Lendl, who mentored him to two Grand Slam wins and an Olympic singles title.

"First and foremost I would say it is Andy's decision, he has got to do what he thinks is best," Henman told Herald Sport. "But in my opinion I would be saying just absolutely keep it as it is. Jamie Delgado has done a great job - he is someone I went to school with from the age of 12 or 13 and I have known him for a long time. He did a great job with Gilles Muller, who he took from 400 in the world to the top 50.

"You look at his schedule coming up, with Roland Garros, then Wimbledon, then the Olympics and the US Open. It is a very difficult time to bring someone new in. Therefore in my opinion I would just keep going. I don't think he needs anyone else. I will believe that [a reunion with Lendl] when I see it."