MONTE CARLO:Novak Djokovic has warned Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal that their stranglehold on men's tennis is about to be loosened.

The 20-year-old Serb, already the world No 3 and who succeeded an ailing Federer as Australian Open champion in January, believes he will be the revolution's spearhead this year and the seasons beyond.

"My goal for this year was to win a Grand Slam and I did it. Now I hope to go a step further on the rankings at the end of the season," said Djokovic who backed up his win in Australia with his third career Masters title at Indian Wells.

"Roger and Rafa have been very dominant these past three or four years but this year is quite different. People are talking about the new players including myself.

"The sport is seeing new faces and that's good for the sport. Things have been shaken up. I won a Grand Slam, (Jo Wilfried) Tsonga was in the final."

Djokovic saw off Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic 6-3, 6-3 at the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday, his season debut on clay courts, and now faces fellow 20-year-old, and budding tennis revolutionary, Andy Murray for a place in the last eight.

Despite his optimism for the challenges ahead, the world No 3 believes his assault on Federer and Nadal will not happen overnight and that the world number one will bounce back from his relatively dismal start to 2008.

"In the end, Roger is a human and it's normal after such a long time being number one that he plays a little bit worse than he usually does," he said.

"But there are plenty of tournaments left to play this year and he just won his first title of the year in Estoril. It's a challenge for him to stay on top of the world. Rafa is right behind him and trying to get him as fast as possible."

For a man who posts film of himself dancing on his personal website, imitates his fellow professionals and happily swaps shirts, soccer-style, with opponents at the net, Djokovic is not short on confidence. But time and talent are on his side.

"I know I have enough quality and the potential to be on top, but I'm only 20 and there's a lot of seasons to come," he said.

Djokovic trails Federer 5-2 in career meetings and Nadal by 6-3.

But before he can think of facing either the world number one or two again he has to dispose of Murray, who he's defeated three times out of three, here on Thursday in the last 16.

Scotsman Murray said he is not shocked by Djokovic's crowning as a Grand Slam champion. "I'm not surprised by the tournaments he has won. His consistency is unbelievable and he's playing well in the Masters events," said the 15th seed.

AFP

(China Daily 04/24/2008 page22)