THE World No 3 clambered among the partisan Parisian mob with scarcely a thought for his own safety.

Here he was, crammed into the outside courts, to watch Kyle Edmund, the young Yorkshireman whom he has invited to his last two training blocks, attempt to secure his first-ever Grand Slam win, a victory which could catapult him into the world's top 100 for the first time.

The crowd were boisterous and good-humoured, even though their man, the 35-year-old French qualifier Stephane Robert, was ultimately on the wrong end of the result. But Murray's willingness to put himself in a place of greatest danger spoke volumes about the man.

Firstly, it told how seriously he takes his role as mentor to the next generation - whether they are English such as Edmund, Slovenian-British such as Aljaz Bedene, or Australian like his pal Thanasi Kokkanaki. Secondly, it proved how trusting he is in general of the tennis crowd and the security measures in place to protect him. No wonder his was an interesting contribution to the debate sparked by a teenage fan invading the Philippe Chatrier court on Sunday in his misguided quest to get a selfie with Roger Federer.

"I have genuinely never actually been concerned," said the 28-year-old, a rather surprising revelation after more than a decade on the tour, at least the last five of which have been spent as a global celebrity. "I have never been in a situation where I have actually freaked out. But sometimes I do, when I am on my own, think 'wow, there are so many people there, what if someone really doesn't like you'.

"You obviously saw what happened with Monica Seles," he added. "It is very rare but these things are not impossible so it is important that security looks after the players. But it is one of the nice things about tennis as well, at the practice courts and most of the events, and getting to and from practice, that fans do get access to the players at a lot of the events. But if someone is leaping down onto the court then you never know why they are doing it, who they are or whatever."

As for this guidance role, of which clay courter Edmund is merely the latest beneficiary, his zeal to play his part is born of the memories of those who had a kind word for him in the locker room on his route through the ranks, and those who, quite frankly, didn't. Locker room bullying is a distasteful part of many individual sports, but Murray prefers to reflect upon those who had given him a helping hand, not least of whom were Tim Henman and his soon-to-be coach Jonas Bjorkman.

"There were a few guys who would maybe swear at you when you are passing, not in the locker room, but on the court," said Murray. "Some of them were just not very nice to you. In the locker room, they would laugh at you or make jokes about you. If someone did it to me now, you would be fine to say something back. But when you are first on the tour, you don't take it that well - because you look up to these guys.

"But also there were a lot of guys who were extremely nice, and Jonas was actually one of them," he added. "I remember that well. Tim is obviously someone who was great with me when I first came on the tour. He used to take me out to dinner, practice with me and spend time with me at the courts. If I was having lunch he would always come over. When other players see someone like Tim, who is very well respected on tour, likes spending time with you then they too become a little bit more open to chatting with you."

With Murray spending the first of two rest days yesterday, the main tangible development in his quest in Paris yesterday was the not-entirely unexpected revelation that it would be Joao Sousa of Portugal, and not Vasek Pospisil of Canada, who awaits next. The World No 44, who left Guimaraes for Barcelona at a young age, has confronted Murray five times during his career to date, twice in the last year, and has yet to win a set. Clay, however, is his domain - as witnessed by the fact he reached the final in Geneva only last week, where he went down to Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil.

"Last week was a good week for me," admitted Sousa. "I played great matches against great players, and had some great victories. Unfortunately I could not win another title. But it was very good for me. I'm in shape. I have a lot of matches and rhythm. I have been playing a good level of tennis, and I feel confidence for the match with Andy. I have played him many times. But never on clay."

Both men downplayed the fact Murray will have two days' lay-off, compared to one. "Towards the end of the tournament, like when it happens in Australia or at Wimbledon when you get the Friday/Monday, it can be an advantage," said the Scot. "But at the beginning I don't really it makes much difference. Everyone is feeling pretty fresh. I just need to make sure I use the days well."

One Scot leaving Paris early yesterday was Colin Fleming, whose frustrating recent period in the men's doubles with Jonny Marray continued when he and the former Wimbledon winner fell at the first hurdle by a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 scoreline against Feliciano Lopez and Max Mirnyi. Neither man's ranking is high enough for them to receive an invite to the mixed doubles, but at least Fleming has his five-month old daughter Rose to keep his mind off things.

"We played a really good first set, then we just kind of lost our way a little bit," said Fleming. "My daughter is five months old, so she doesn't know whether I have won or lost. She helps take my mind off things and it is back to reality."