Novak Djokovic profile

Players Under the Microscope / Editor / 26 February 2007 / Leave a Comment

Although Roger Federer is the talk of the town this week as he enjoys a record-breaking stay in the world number one spot, the new kids on the block are still capable of getting the pulse racing.

Last year Rafael Nadal and Marcos Baghdatis were the ones to watch, while more recently Britain's hot property Andy Murray has given home fans something to shout about.

But another 19-year-old is generating plenty of excitement, especially for Serbian tennis. Novak Djokovic is right behind Murray at world number 14 - he was as high as number 13 last month - and is only a week younger than the Scot. He will be 20 on May 22, while Murray leaves his teens behind seven days earlier.

With Nadal and France's Richard Gasquet not 20 until June, here are four young players who can dominate world tennis for a long time - at least once Mr Federer has decided he's had enough.

Djokovic turned professional back in 2003 at the age of 16 and so isn't exactly new to the ATP Tour, but he is still a young man full of rich potential.

He already has three ATP titles to his name and has moved his base from his place of birth in Belgrade to the tennis players' haven, Monte Carlo.

Last year represented his breakthough period into the big time. He won the Amersfoot tournament and the Metz event and followed that up with victory in Adelaide in January, when he was also runner-up in his first senior doubles final.

An early indication of his quality is garnered from the fact that last year he reached the French Open quarter-finals on the clay courts of Roland Garros, before losing to Nadal, and then backed that up with a fourth-round effort on Wimbledon's grass before going out in a five-set thriller against Croatian Mario Ancic.

He went on to reach the US Open third round before losing to former champion Lleyton Hewitt on the hard courts in New York. In fact, hard courts are his preferred surface, but he considers himself to be a good all-court player.

At the Australian Open last month he reached the last 16 before losing to champion Federer. So he has a good all-round game whatever the surface and at 6ft 2in has the right build to develop into a big player.

His dad, who has run a pizzeria and pancake restaurant for 15 years on a mountain in Serbia, wanted his son to be a soccer player. But Novak, who began playing tennis at the age of four, stuck to his guns and inspired by the performances of Pete Sampras, is rapidly heading for the top.

Just as exciting his two younger brothers, who are still at school, are also very promising tennis players.

Djokovic is currently in good form - last week he reached the semi-finals of the Rotterdam tournament before losing to eventual winner Mikhail Youzhny 3-6 7-6 7-5.

This week he starts his Dubai Championship campaign against Kristof Vliegen of Belgium, a win will put him on course for a possible quarter-final clash with none other than Federer - although he would have to beat German Rainer Schuettler or Italy's Andreas Seppi in the second round.

Djokovic is trading at 1.32 on Betfair to beat Vliegen (4), while the youngster can be backed at 46 - mainly because he will probably have to face Federer - to lift the title in Dubai.