Wimbledon 2016: Andy Murray 'already a great but needs more titles' - Mary Pierce

Andy Murray "is already a tennis great" but needs more Grand Slam titles to be ranked among the greatest players, says ex-French Open champion Mary Pierce.

Murray is favourite to win his second Wimbledon, and a third Grand Slam title, after dismantling Nick Kyrgios.

The 2013 champion faces 12th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-finals.

"I think he is already a tennis great. I have a lot of respect for Andy and what he has done so far in his career is great," Pierce told BBC Scotland.

"It is amazing to have won an Olympic Games [in 2012] in his own country and to win his home Grand Slam is fantastic. It isn't an easy thing to do, as I know myself, with all the pressure that comes along with it.

"Obviously when you start talking about the history of tennis and the greatest players of all time, there is still a lot more that Andy needs to achieve in terms of titles and Grand Slams, and accumulating more of those.

"Every Grand Slam title you win adds to your record and your pedigree, and you go up another level. But I think it would take quite a few more titles, not just one."

Murray 'the best I have seen him for a long time'

Murray, 29, has joined Pete Sampras and John McEnroe in reaching nine consecutive Wimbledon quarter-finals, and is yet to drop a set in his four matches at this year's championship.

"Andy's looking great, with Ivan Lendl back in his corner," noted Pierce, who won the 1995 Australian Open and 2000 French Open and was twice a Wimbledon quarter-finalist.

"He made such great improvements with him last time, and now seeing him with him again, Andy is looking the best I have seen him in a long time.

"He is looking very aggressive, very intense right from the first point of his matches, he is attacking and coming forward, he is serving well, returning well. He just seems really happy and is enjoying being out there on the court."

Could Tsonga cause a shock on Wednesday?

Tsonga has lost 11 of his 12 matches with Murray, and their last four meetings on grass

Frenchman Tsonga has twice lost to Murray at Wimbledon, in the quarter-finals in 2010 and a semi-final in 2012, both in four sets.

"I don't expect any upset," Pierce said. "I think it will be a good match, and it could go the distance. It is going to depend on how Jo-Wilfried serves and returns.

"Obviously the crowd is going to be behind Andy on Centre Court, and I think Andy will definitely win the match.

"Jo is older than Kyrgios and has more experience, his game is a bit different. He has had more consistent, better results against top players than Nick has. Nick is still a young guy, he is still learning and has a lot to learn on and off the court.

"Jo-Wilfried has the game to beat top players; we know he has done it in the past and he can do it. Will he do it here at Wimbledon? I just have a feeling Andy will come through."

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