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Djokovic a loser all down the line
Last updated at 16:07pm on 16.06.07Novak Djorkovic has lost two things that matter to him this week — the chance to gain valuable match practice on grass and Andy Murray's phone number.
Not only did the world No 4 go down yesterday in the third round of the Artois Championships at Queen's Club, he has also been unable to contact his great friend and rival.
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Feeling the strain: Djokovic finds it tough against Clement yesterday
Born just seven days apart, he and Murray came up through the international junior ranks together and share the distinction of making it into the world's top 10 while they were still teenagers.
It is likely that the pair will develop a major rivalry over the coming years, but that has not affected their friendship and Djokovic has wanted to catch up first hand with Murray this week.
"I've wanted to call him but either I've lost his right number or he has changed it," said the genial Serb after he had gone down 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 to Frenchman Arnaud Clement in a match held over from Thursday.
"I haven't seen him but I have heard that he has started practising and I'm happy to hear that the injury is getting better and better.
"It's very difficult when you are basically losing the pain from an injury but you don't want to risk too much and you are so keen to play again. It requires time and patience."
Murray was practising at Wimbledon yesterday, and reports are that there is unquestionably good progress being made and he continues to hit harder and harder with his damaged right wrist.
He is not expected to play in the Boodles Challenge exhibition event at Stoke Park next week, but there does appear to be a degree of genuine hope that he might just make his return at Wimbledon.
However, five-times champion Bjorn Borg has urged Murray not to return too soon. "Andy is going to be a top player for years to come, but you cannot rush injuries," said the Swede. "You have to take the time it takes to heal."
Djokovic, too, has an injury concern ahead of the big fortnight, but it will definitely not stop him appearing.
He has pulled out of next week's grasscourt tournament in Holland with a strained tricep muscle in his serving arm.
It hampered him yesterday in what, during his accelerated climb this year, was only his third defeat before the last eight of any tournament.
"It hurt a bit when I served but it is not serious," he said. "I'm not going to go to Holland and will instead spend next week practising at Wimbledon."
It is hardly surprising that there are a few aches and pains as Djokovic has played 49 matches already this year, thrashing an injured Murray on his way to the Masters title at Miami in March.
He had limited time to prepare for this week, anyway, having flown home after his French Open semi-final in Paris along with fellow Serbian stars Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic to a public reception that was attended by 20,000 people.
At 5ft 8in, Clement walks in the land of the giants, but he is an experienced operator on grass and was too clever for the more powerful Djokovic.
"Arnaud is a very intelligent player on grass and I just stopped moving in the third set," admitted Djokovic.
California-based Russian Dmitri Tursonov became the first man through to today's semi-finals when he defeated Australian Open finalist Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 6-7, 6-4.
Tursonov will not be the most famous of the last four but he is probably the most eccentric.
An amusing blogger in cyberspace, his hobbies include knitting and collecting walnut shells, and he is a very keen follower of figure skating and Barbra Streisand.
Marin Cilic, Tim Henman's firstround conqueror, was beaten 6-4, 7-6 by Andy Roddick in his quarter-final, but was nevertheless buoyed by more generosity from the British game ahead of the Davis Cup tie against Croatia in September.
Having been given a wildcard to Queen's, Cilic was handed one into the main Wimbledon draw, despite the fact he is in the squad to face Great Britain at the All England Club and the experience of playing there that it guarantees him.
However, Wimbledon referee Andrew Jarrett said: "I don't feel it is terribly relevant. He is playing on grass at the moment regardless, and you could argue that he would be getting more matches were he to come through the qualifying event."
