Andy and Novak on fast track to the top

Judging by the trail of destruction the

twin teenage tornados have left behind

already in 2007, Andy Murray and Novak

Djokovic will be seeing a lot

more of each other.

For the second Masters Series

event in succession, they meet in

the semi-finals with more than

just the prize of being the topranked

19-year-old in the world at stake.

Scroll down for more

With Roger Federer gone from

the draw and Rafael Nadal

despatched by Djokovic on

Wednesday night, the opportunity

to win the most significant

title of their fledgling careers

beckons invitingly.

Victory for Murray would also

elevate him into the world’s top

10. And to think, less than two

years ago most sports followers in

Britain had never heard of him.

Now tennis fans around the

world are fully aware of his special

talent. In the opening game

of his abridged victory over the

injured Andy Roddick, Murray

announced himself to the

Stadium Court crowd in Key

Biscayne with two driven forehands

of such ferocity that gasps

of incredulity circled the arena.

As stunning as Murray’s transformation

has been from boy

wonder to contender for every

tournament he enters, the truly

staggering aspect is that he has

had company on his journey.

He and Djokovic were born a

week apart in May 1987. One in

Dunblane, the other in Belgrade.

They were close as juniors, on

and off the court, and the bond

still remains. Whatever one

achieves, the other matches his

accomplishment. The next great

rivalry in tennis has arrived.

Of course, Federer continues to

reign supreme and Nadal is the

undisputed king of clay, yet there

is nothing in the names and games of those players beneath the top two that suggests they

will be able to withstand the

charge of the teenagers.

Roddick, Davydenko, Gonzalez,

Robredo, Ljubicic, Blake, Haas.

Fine players, yet all with slight

limitations either of talent,

technique or temperament.

Murray and Djokovic have

shown no such thresholds to

their potential so far.

Experience is all they lack and that has been

crammed into both players in the

past 12 months.

Both have won a title in 2007 —

Murray in San Jose, Djokovic in

Adelaide. Murray has reached the

semi-final in all but one of the

tournaments in which he has

competed this year, while

Djokovic’s win-loss record is an

impressive 22-5.

Djokovic won their meeting in

Indian Wells a fortnight ago, but

Murray was hampered by a

bruised hip in that match.

Djokovic said: "I’m expecting a

really good match. Andy is probably

going to be fitter than in the

last one. Two young players

against each other, it’s always

nice. I think it’s a great thing for

tennis to see Nadal, Murray and

myself playing so well and bringing

something so new into tennis."

When it comes to styles,

Murray’s shot-making has yet to

triumph over Djokovic’s consistency.

The Serb has no discernible

weakness in his game, but perhaps

does not possess the imagination

with which Murray is blessed. As

with all great sporting rivalries,

that contrast adds an intoxicating

air to today’s contest and into the

foreseeable future.

Murray said: "I will just play my game.

"I think his game kind of fits into mine quite well. Hopefully, I can mix it up and not give him the same pace all the time.

"I think that's important. You have to throw him off his rhythm a little bit."

Long to rain over us...

One would think that being head of state would guarantee that one would not have to stand out in the rain while everyone else took shelter.

But royal protocol seemed to go out of the window yesterday when the Queen visited Roehampton to open the LTA's new £32million National Tennis Centre.

Her Majesty toured the 22 outdoor and indoor courts and state-of-the-art facilities and met John Lloyd, Greg Rusedski and Judy Murray, mother of Andy, who coaches junior players, before the heavens opened.

At least one remembered to bring one's brolly!