ANDY Murray has hailed the "unbelievable" consistency of Novak Djokovic ahead of their third-round meeting at the Monte Carlo Masters today.
The pair emerged on the world stage at the same time, and while Murray has reached the world's top ten and won five titles, Djokovic has established himself as the world No3 and clinched his first grand slam title in Australia in January. He has be
en the form player this year and leads the ATP Race, based on results this season, by nearly 100 points.
"I'm not surprised by the tournaments he's won," Murray said of his fellow 20-year-old. "I think more the consistency of his results has been unbelievable.
"Normally for young guys, they play some good weeks, some bad weeks. But he's made the semis of every grand slam at least and he's played well in a lot of Masters Series."
World No 20 Murray has had a disappointing time since beating Roger Federer in Dubai last month but there have been promising signs in his victories over Feliciano Lopez and Filippo Volandri in the first two rounds in Monte Carlo.
The Scot, who has enlisted the help of former world No2 Alex Corretja, is still finding his feet on clay after missing nearly all of this stretch last season through injury. And he admits the physical and mental demands of playing on the slow surface provide a unique challenge.
Murray said:
"When you play on the hard courts, you get away with hitting one big serve and the point's finished. When you get onto the clay, you realise you need to keep working hard to get stronger.
"It definitely makes you want to get in good shape and get fitter than the other players.
"And the mental side is huge on clay. When you play a couple of bad points or you do a lot of running, it's important to try and keep doing that.
"Even if you are struggling and losing points, not to get down on yourself and continue to run as much as you can and put as many balls back. You can always change the momentum on clay.
"I think I can play well on clay but it's understanding the right way to play because I have a lot of variations in my game.
It's just making sure I do the right things at the right moments."
Murray is looking for his first win over Djokovic in four meetings, but the Serb is determined to maintain his brilliant start to the season.
"I haven't won a major event on clay, so I always have the highest possible intentions and goals any tournament I play," he said. "I think I have enough quality to beat the best players in the world – even on this surface."
Federer was two points from an embarrassing exit from the Monte Carlo Masters yesterday before rallying to beat Spanish qualifier Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 to reach the third round.
The world No 1 was 5-1 down in the third set before his opponent, ranked 137th, crumbled under the pressure, losing the tiebreak 7-1.
Second-seeded claycourt king Rafael Nadal, bidding for a fourth consecutive title in the principality, never let Mario Ancic into their match, powering to a 6-0, 6-3 win over the Croatian in 75 minutes.
Nadal next faces compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero, who beat Finn Jarkko Nieminen 6-3, 6-3, while Federer meets Frenchman Gael Monfils, who beat Croatia's Ivo Karlovic 7-6, 6-1.
The full article contains 597 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
