For Haye's a jolly good fellow: Boxer helps Andy Murray regain his form

The genteel strawberries and cream world of tennis may appear to have little in common with the blood and guts of boxing.

But world number four Andy Murray has told how he broke his four-month losing streak with the help of sporting tips from heavyweight champion David Haye.

Murray, 24, stormed to a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Czech Radek Stepanek in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters yesterday, going through to face Frenchman Gilles Simon today.

The result ended a run of dreadful defeats since the British number one lost the Australian Open final in January.

The Scot credited Bermondsey's Haye, 30, with giving him the self-belief and aggressive winning mentality to end his bad form.

Murray said: "Seeing David Haye train in Miami was very important and he's at the top of his sport. He told me I had beaten all the best players in the world and I had to trust myself and believe.

"I have been keeping in touch with him and spoke and texted before the Stepanek match and I like the boxer's mentality. When I move well on court, I feel like I can be the best player in the world."

Haye is due to fight Wladimir Klitschko in July.