• What the Deuce

Murray poised to follow in Djokovic's footsteps

Andy Murray is in the form of his life © PA Photos

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For the first time in his career, Andy Murray is officially better than Roger Federer. His hat-trick of titles in the Far East suggest he is in the form of his life. But is Murray a better player than two years ago?

In August 2009, Murray achieved a career-high ranking of No. 2 in the world behind only the great Federer - at that point proudly in possession of three grand slam titles. But while the rankings suggested Murray was the second best player in the world, his status came as a result of injury woes to Rafael Nadal and his inevitable slide down the rankings.

At the time, Murray had just won the Rogers Cup in Montreal for his fifth title of the season. But after successfully defending his Shanghai Masters title for his fifth title of 2011, has Murray has improved as a player?

On first glance, many of the statistics appear remarkably similar - Murray has won 75% of points on his first serves compared to 76% two years ago; in 2009 he converted 46% of break points, while making 47% this year. Murray has won 54 of his 65 matches this season, giving him a winning percentage of 83% compared with 85% two years ago, which suggests his level has dropped.

Opening round defeats to the likes of Alex Bogomolov Jr and Donald Young earlier in the season have not done anything to boost Murray's figures, while his record against the 'big three' has not improved.

While Murray has not lost to Federer this season, his four defeats to Nadal (including three in consecutive grand slam semi-finals) and two to Novak Djokovic means he is has just two wins from eight matches against the big three, compared to a 3-4 win-to-loss ratio two years ago.

But whatever the stats say, you cannot ignore a player who has reached the semi-finals of all four grand slams in a single season, nor a man who has 25 wins from 26 matches. While his run has not quite reached the heights of Djokovic this season, there is no question that Murray is in some of the best form of his life.

In many ways, it was inevitable. Murray and Djokovic, born a matter of days apart, have always been well-matched. Both won their first ATP Tour title in 2006, and when Djokovic broke into the top ten for the first time in March 2007, Murray followed just a month later.

In 2006 they finished the year at No. 16 and No. 17 respectively, and for three consecutive years between 2008 and 2010, Murray finished the year as world No. 4 hot on Djokovic's heels at No. 3. The best of friends off the court, they have known each other since they were teenagers travelling across Europe on the junior circuit.

Murray and Novak Djokovic have been evenly-matched since they were teenagers © PA Photos

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For players so evenly-matched for such a long period of time, it must have been a cause of endless frustration for Murray to see his pal put his foot on the gas, leaving the Scot trailing in his wake.

With Djokovic having guaranteed his status as world No. 1 until the start of next season, it will be a third different player ending the year at the top of the rankings in as many seasons. Federer ended the year top of the pile back in 2009; with three slams 2010 was undoubtedly Nadal's year, while Djokovic has had a season to remember in 2011.

Twelve months is a long time in tennis, and few people would have predicted the astonishing success Djokovic has enjoyed in 2011 a year ago.

He may lack the grace of Federer, the passion of Nadal or the athleticism of Djokovic, but Murray appears to have found the winning formula. What's more, he is oozing confidence - and Djokovic has shown just what a powerful weapon that can be.

Even if Murray wins every match between now and the end of the season he will still have to prove himself on the big stages, as the pressure continues to mount as the 'greatest player never to win a slam' continues his quest for a major title.

But with the Olympics on his home turf next summer, could 2012 be Murray's year?

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