Tennis: Murray and Henman Look to Start Hot in Tokyo

Andy Murray should open his Japan Open campaign tomorrow with a victory over the 31-year old Jiri Novak in the second round of the Tokyo event. The fourth-seeded teenager will be eager to recover well from his unexpected setback in the Thailand Open when he faces the veteran from the Czech Republic.

Murray, who had a bye in the first round, knows Novak has a good pedigree on the hard courts in Tokyo. The Czech won the title here in 2004, when he beat the big-serving American Taylor Dent in the final.

Yesterday Novak earned the tilt at the British No1 by coming from behind to beat his fellow Czech Robin Vik 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Henman, who caused that recent upset for Murray in Thailand, is seeded No10 in Tokyo. The British No2 also opens today, against Canada's Frank Dancevic.

Rafael Nadal, Spain's world No2, said yesterday that it would be "impossible" for him, or anyone else, to knock Roger Federer off the top spot next year if the Swiss maintains the masterly form he has shown this season.

"I'm still young, only 20, and I have to keep working hard so that one day I will have the chance to become the No1," said Nadal. "But, given the circumstances at the moment, being No2 could hardly be better."

Nadal, showing remarkable consistency on clay, has been won five tournaments this year including his successful defence of his French Open title and wins in the Masters Series in Monte Carlo and Rome. He also reached the Wimbledon final but was unable to stop Federer winning a fourth consecutive title there.

Nadal suggested that, because of the challenge of playing on grass and the tradition of the event, triumphing at Wimbledon was now his top career ambition - "My aim is to play well at every tournament but, given what is stands for, the one I would really like to do well in is Wimbledon."

Immediately, the Mallorcan has a special interest closer to home as he prepares his defence of the title in the Madrid Masters, beginning on October 14.

Nadal came from behind to defeat the huge-serving Croatian Ivan Ljubicic in last year's final. That triumph, he said, "was a miracle and without the support of the fans I couldn't have done it. I had doubted whether I would be able to play at all because of my knee problems."