Djokovic to re-take Murray

Murray's superb run in the last nine months - which has seen him win a trio of Masters series events and play in his first Grand Slam final - has rocketed him up the rankings, and with Djokovic failing to reproduce his early 2008 brilliance the pair will swap places after this weekend.

The switch will make Murray the first British player to make it to the top-three of the men's game since the rankings were introduced in 1973.

Yet a slender majority of you believe that it is Novak Djokovic who will finish the year the higher-ranked of the pair.

Your comments were the usual mix of interesting, well-balanced analysis - with elgris22 being top of the class this week - and utter, raving nonsense.

Several considered the vagaries of the occasionally controversial ATP rankings system; others paid tribute to the contribution that Murray has already made to British - and Scottish - tennis; while a regrettably sizeable group decided that merely shouting their beliefs would substitute for explaining them.

Particular congratulations for comical myopia go to reader vojislavpejic for using no fewer than 49 exclamation marks to explain precisely why "DjOKOVIC IS BETTER PLAYER THAN MURRAY".

We were unconvinced by his (or her) argument after a dozen exclamation marks; then we began to waver after 30 or so; but having got through the full 49 of 'em, suddenly the beautiful simplicity of the argument fell in to place.

So thanks for that.

------

Novak Djokovic: 58%, 2582 votes

Andy Murray: 42%, 1888 votes

(4470 votes as of 5pm UK time on 7 May)

------

elgris22: "Well obviously Novak isn't the best as the system has proved. I agree he's a very good player but like Murray he's been inconsistent mainly due to 'The Heat' and injuries. but so has Murray. It's just that Murray has been less inconsistent !! Systems will not please all the people all the time, but this is the fairest system there is. You win some you lose some, but you better try and be consistent or you lose points! "

Jimmy: "So what? Are we supposed to be ecstatic about it? No matter what, Djokovic proved he is a better player. He'll soon get his rank back."

cas.hofstee: "pfff, Number 3. Murray will not even get to the seconde week of RG. He will be slaughtered by the so called clay-court specialists and top 20-pretenders."

fwtrueblu81: "bottom line is murray's been playin well and deserves to be third, give him credit where its due! he's not as good as nadal but then again who is?! he's every bit as good as djokovic and federer and will be challening for 2nd by the end of the year!"

siskra83: "You can celebrate Murray's 3 place tomorrow (for a short time) because Novak is much better player than Andy on all surfaces. Also I am Rafa's fan, I think that in this very moment Nole is the second best player and he will going to take the no 2 very soon (after W. or Us open) At the end of the year it will be: 1. Nadal...2. Djokovic 3. Federer (my wish) ....4 Murray......5.Verdasco"

rc_alcock: "ANDY­ MURRAY HAS BEATEN NOVAK DJOKOVIC ON THE LAST THREE­ OCCASIONS THAT THE TWO HAVE MET SO IT IS HARDLY SO­ SUPRISING THAT MURRAY IS NOW HIGHER IS IT REALLY!!"

ueginfliction: "andy murray is the best thing that has happened to british tennis in a long time. Note that he is SCOTTISH and is the only Brit and SCOT to get into the top 3.... tim henman was never there murray will get to number 2 and will hopefully be challenging for no1 spot soon enough."

i_love_tennis87: "is this ranking system normal? this is stupid Murray isn't better player than Djokovic, a good player plays GOOD IN ALL SURFACES! andy murray plays such a boring defansive tennis!!!"

vojislavpejic: "Wau, he will be no. 3, big deal! I think that Djokovic will be soon no. 3 because Murray has to defend to many points in next three mounts!! And one very important thing: DjOKOVIC IS BETTER PLAYER THAN MURRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"