Andy Murray can defeat Novak Djokovic again in Shanghai says Barry Cowan
Saturday 17 October 2015 11:45, UK
Andy Murray can secure a second successive win over Novak Djokovic if he keeps up his aggressive brand of tennis at the Shanghai Masters, says Barry Cowan.
The Scot raced to a 6-1 6-3 win over Tomas Berdych to set up another showdown with Djokovic in the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters, live on Sky Sports.
When the pair last met in August, Murray claimed a three-set victory over the Serb and should carry plenty of confidence into this clash between the current top two players in the world.
The British No 1 piled pressure on Berdych from the opening game, ruthlessly targeting his second serve, and Sky Sports expert Cowan hopes he will display similar aggression against Djokovic.
Asked to pick a winner, he told Sky Sports: "Murray. I've been incredibly impressed with the way he's played this week.
"The way he played today, exactly the sort of tennis he has been playing this year, aggressive, taking it to Djokovic, and the fact that he beat him last time playing that way will convince him that's what he needs to do again."
Murray forced a total of 19 break points while defeating Djokovic in Montreal, while his previous win had been a gruelling triumph in the 2013 Wimbledon final.
Cowan expects Murray to stick with his current tactics by going for the jugular and has predicted an exciting battle.
He said: "What match are we going to have? Is it going to be a physical match which we've had in a lot of match-ups between them?
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"Wimbledon was over three hours or are we going to have a repeat of the last match in Montreal where Andy played arguably one of his best matches ever in terms of his aggressive tennis but also Novak was aggressive.
"I feel the latter. I think both players are going to go at each other."
Watch Saturday's semi-final between Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic at the Shanghai Masters on Sky Sports 3, starting at 1pm.
