PREVIEW: Djokovic hopes to breathe easier in semi-final with Murray

Jan 26, 2012, 2:26 GMT

Melbourne - Novak Djokovic will be carrying a health concern into his Friday semi-final at the Australian Open as the top seed faces off with Scot Andy Murray in a re-run of the 2011 final won by the Serb.

World number one Djokovic confessed to a bout of 'sudden pain' during his fighting win in the quarter-finals over scampering Spaniard David Ferrer, still ending on a run of form after occasionally leaning precariously over his racquet on his haunches earlier on in an effort to catch his breath.

But Djokovic, who stands 6-4 overall against Murray - he won two of their three meetings in 2011 - insists that he just suffered a temporary breathing problem.

'Luckily for me it wasn't something that stayed there for a long time. It was just a sudden pain,' Djokovic said of his problem.

'I don't have any physical issues. I feel very fit and I feel mentally, as well, very fresh. I just found it very difficult after a long time to breathe because I felt the whole day my nose was closed a little bit.

'I just wasn't able to get enough oxygen.'

That kind of admission might still give Murray hope as the player born a week apart from his rival works to try and break his Grand Slam duck after losing in all three of his appearances in finals at the majors.

He has lost the last two in Melbourne, going down to Roger Federer in 2010 and Djokovic a year ago. Murray made a winning statement as he moved into the final four through a crushing of Japan's Kei Nishikori.

Compared to Djokovic, Murray has had it easy in his recent matches. 'I haven't played over two hours really for the last few matches. I feel fresh.

'Hopefully that will be to my advantage going into the weekend. I have to play a lot of long rallies, for sure, against the guys that are still left in the tournament. So I'll need my legs to be fresh for the next few matches.

'From what I saw of Novak, he's hitting the ball very well. He's always very good; he never plays poor matches. Obviously had the long one with him last year. He's a tough guy to play.'

Djokovic knows he will be facing a revitalised Murray in the semi-final.

'He's got (new coach) Ivan Lendl now on his side. He looks fit and has been playing well. He's definitely very motivated to win his first Grand Slam. By playing the last two finals here, he's s been proving to himself and to the rest of the people that the Australian Open is probably his best Grand Slam.'

But the holder warned: 'I've been playing quite well here in the last couple years. We have to expect a great match.

'A tournament cannot ask for better match-ups in semi-finals. I hope that I can step out on the court trying to repeat the same thing I did last year.'