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Novak Djokovic is copying his great friend Andy Murray by creating a "team" to help him regain lost ground at the top of the sport with Todd Martin boosting the World No4's challenge for the US Open title in New York.
Murray has assembled a group of trainers and coaches and brings in Spain's Alex Corretja during the clay-court part of the season for specialist help. Djokovic, the former Australian Open champion, wants to win the US title this year and sees American Martin as a key component in that plan. Djokovic, like Murray has been a finalist in New York only to find Roger Federer too good on the day.
However, Martin has warned the 22-year-old Serb that he needs to concentrate more on improving his game and less on starring in fashion shows which have been featured at recent tournaments.
Djokovic , who reached the second round yesterday by defeating Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic 6-3, 6-1, 6-3, explained: "Before my second-round match in Montreal they showed on the big screen the fashion show I did with me only wearing a pair of Speedos.
"I thought it was really funny but Todd said 'if we are going to work together then please, I beg you, don't show that anymore'!
"He is a great guy and a lot of fun but also works hard which is great. This is a kind of test period for us to work together and we will see how it goes and take it from there."
If Murray and Djokovic keep winning they could face each other in the final but Federer and Nadal will have other ideas.
Meanwhile, Ross Hutchins saw his US Open doubles campaign end at the first fence as the Briton and Australia's Stephen Huss were defeated by Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and Olivier Rochus at Flushing Meadows.
British Davis Cup player Hutchins and Huss, seeded 15th in the men's doubles, were beaten 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 by the Spanish-Belgian partnership.
Hutchins, a sometime doubles partner of Andy Murray but a regular with former Wimbledon doubles champion Huss, raced into a one-set lead before their opponents won the next two.
