By Mike Cormack
SPORTSNET.CA
TORONTO -- Andy Murray gave his old friend and rival Novak Djokovic a taste of his own medicine Friday night at the Rogers Cup.
In May, Djokovic created a bit of a stir in Murray's native Britain when he said his friend and fellow 21-year-old had great potential and talent but needed to gain more confidence.
But Friday it was Djokovic who conceded to battling a case of nerves during Murray's stirring 6-3, 7-6 win, his first loss to Murray in five career matches.
"The last couple of months I haven't been playing the tiebreakers well," Djokovic explained. "Now I'm getting nervous. I just have to stay positive and believe in myself."
The eighth-seeded Murray, who will now play the winner of the Rafael Nadal-Richard Gasquet quarterfinal following his match, said he felt in complete control amid a raucous Rexall Centre crowd littered with Scottish and Serbian supporters.
"The crowd can make you nervous," he explained, "but tonight I didn't feel any nerves at all."
Murray is coming off an injury-plagued 2007 in which a torn tendon in his wrist forced him to miss the French Open and Wimbledon. He has rebounded this year with a win over Roger Federer in Dubai and a memorable run at Wimbledon that was ended by Nadal in the quarterfinals.
A win Saturday and Murray will advance to first Masters Series final.
"Nadal is now the only top guy I haven't beaten," said Murray. "This is a big win mentally for me. It definitely gives you confidence, especially when you've lost to (Djokovic) so many times before."
As Djokovic found out Friday, sometimes it hurts to be right.
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