THAT Tommy Robredo, an afterthought in A-list terms, can reach the elite eight of the Masters Cup ought to warm the cockles of Andy Murray’s heart as he spends the next six weeks splitting his preparation for 2007 between leisure and lung-bursting.

Robredo, the Spaniard named after the central character in Ken Russell’s 1975 rock musical, has been on the fringe of some central characterisation of his own. He broke into the top ten in May by winning the Masters Series event in Hamburg but is yet to reach the semi-finals of a grand-slam championship. He just does the hard yards, week in and week out.

“The story between the glory and the defeat is so close in tennis; no, in any sport,” Robredo said after guaranteeing his place in Shanghai by beating Paul-Henri Mathieu in the BNP Paribas Masters on Thursday. “I just passed the line this time. Family, press, all these things — there has been so much pressure.”

Robredo is 24, so he has five years in experience on Murray, who completed his first full year on the circuit on Thursday night. A year ago, the Scot was mixing Challengers with main tour events, beating Tim Henman in his last tournament of the season and was happy with Mark Petchey as his coach: two children approaching a candy store.

Fast-forward and Murray has won his first tournament, in San Jose in March, beating Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt back-to-back; dispensed with Petchey; reached his first grand-slam fourth round, at Wimbledon; repeated the feat at the US Open, by which time he was working with Brad Gilbert, the coach fêted by his management company and the LTA; beaten Roger Federer and joined the top 20. Who can question him?

“Obviously I want a break and I prefer hitting for 30 minutes once every three days to keep my eye in,” Murray said. “I wouldn’t mind a holiday somewhere.”

By the time Murray next picks up a racket, the landscape of British tennis will have changed, with many new faces in newly established places. Nigel Sears, the father of Murray’s girlfriend, Kim, is among the final interviewees next week to become the head of women’s tennis. A real family affair beckons.