Murray vs Djokovic - who will face Nadal?

When world #1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia faces world #4 Andy Murray of Great Britain, it will mark the 11th time that the two friends will be facing each other after both turned professional. Both are 24 years old, with Murray born a week earlier than Djokovic. They are hitting partners and play football together. They have known each other since before they were teens, playing against each other for the first time in a junior tournament in France. In recent Grand Slam history, both have reached the semifinals or better in the past 5 grand slams. However, the similarities end there. While Djokovic has won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open in 2011 to up his grand slam titles to four, Murray has still to win one grand slam title.

Djokovic leads their head-to-head match-up 6-4, but Murray won their last encounter. This was at the finals of the ATP World Tour Masters in Cincinnati last August when Djokovic retired while trailing 4-6, 0-3. This would mark Djokovic's second loss for 2011. Both players have played remarkably in the earlier rounds of this year's Australian Open. However, it is difficult to see Murray overcoming Djokovic at this time. I think the defending champion will beat Murray in a tight 4-setter and move on to his third straight championship match against world #2 Rafael Nadal.

Below is a history of the matches between Murray and Djokovic:

Match #10:
2011 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Cincinnati
OH, U.S.A. Hard F
Murray, Andy won 6-4, 3-0 RETIRED

Match #9:
2011 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Rome
Italy Clay S
Djokovic, Novak won 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(2)

Match #8:
2011 Australian Open
Australia Hard F
Djokovic, Novak won 6-4, 6-2, 6-3

Match #7:
2009 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Miami
FL, U.S.A. Hard F
Murray, Andy won 6-2, 7-5

Match #6:
2008 ATP Masters Series Cincinnati
OH, U.S.A. Hard F
Murray, Andy won 7-6(4), 7-6(5)

Match #5:
2008 ATP Masters Series Canada
Toronto, Canada Hard Q
Murray, Andy won 6-3, 7-6(3)

Match #4:
2008 ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo
Monaco Clay R16
Djokovic, Novak won 6-0, 6-4

Match #3:
2007 ATP Masters Series Miami
FL, U.S.A. Hard S
Djokovic, Novak won 6-1, 6-0

Match #2:
2007 ATP Masters Series Indian Wells
CA, U.S.A. Hard S
Djokovic, Novak won 6-2, 6-3

Match #1:
2006 ATP Masters Series Madrid
Spain Hard R16
Djokovic, Novak won 1-6, 7-5, 6-3