Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have much in common from adjacent birthdays to a spirit-sapping defensive game. The most important similarity between them right now, however, is the lack of a French Open title and, after four of seven matches, it is the world No1 who looks more likely to leave Paris smiling on Sunday.
Djokovic is approaching such a pitch of excellence that even those smiling supporters wearing “Vamos Rafa!” T-shirts around Roland Garros are looking apprehensive before his quarter-final against the Serb on Wednesday. The Spaniard, who dropped a set against the unseeded American Jack Sock on Monday, is struggling for friends at the tournament he has won nine times.