By Chris Oddo | Monday, September 1, 2014

 

After his first top ten win in over a year, Andy Murray is looking to claim an even bigger scalp in Novak Djokovic.

Photo Source: AP

Andy Murray is eagerly looking forward to battling the world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, after his 7-5, 7-5, 6-4 win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Monday. Murray’s first win over a top ten player since Wimbledon 2013 has the two-time Grand Slam champion believing that he may indeed be ready to make a run at the title at the US Open.

Day 8: Djokovic Reaches 22nd Consecutive Quarterfinal | Serena Williams Happy, Hungry

“I think that's really why we play the game,” said Murray when asked about his impending clash with the Serb. “You know, that's what you put the work in for, so that when you come to these events and you do have to play against the best players that you're ready. As much as it's incredibly tough and challenging, that's what you enjoy.”

Murray owns an 8-12 career record against Djokovic but he can certainly take comfort from the fact that the Serb was the player that Murray defeated in the final of both Grand Slams that he won.

“They obviously will help,” Murray said of his victories over Djokovic in the 2012 US Open and 2013 Wimbledon finals. “I wouldn't say in terms of getting confidence more. It's just having that experience of playing those matches. They were both very long, tough matches, as well. So I know that I can last those matches against him.”

Murray had dropped his last seven matches against the top ten, but he was able to improve his record to 10-2 against No. 10-ranked Tsonga by breaking the Frenchman in the 12th game of the first two sets, then breaking two more times in the third to close the tilt in straight sets. Murray hit an impressive 45 winners against only 18 unforced errors on the day, and out-aced Tsonga 11-6.

But the 27-year-old Scot knows he’ll need to be even better to take down Djokovic at the tournament where the Serb has reached the final in each of the last four years.

Because they play such similar styles, Murray says he’ll need to read and react to the conditions and the way that Djokovic is playing and make crucial adjustments if he is going to pull the upset.

“I would say we play a fairly similar style, and I think that's why a lot of the matches have been long games, long rallies, long points, because we do a lot of the same things well,” Murray said. “I mean, obviously there's tactics that you go into the match with … And also it depends on the conditions. If it's windy, that changes things, as well, the way that you approach it and the sort of shots you're going to try and hit. So I don't know exactly what I'm going to do on Wednesday, but by the time I get on the court I'll have a good idea.”