Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were centre stage as they prepared to start their competitive 2009 season on board a boat in Qatar but the name on everyone's lips was that of Andy Murray.

The world No.4 from Dunblane eclipsed the top two in the world rankings with three-set victories over the pair in the Capitala World Championship, a six-man exhibition event in Abu Dhabi last week.

Yesterday afternoon, the trend towards high-profile gimmickry in tennis had Nadal and Federer knocking about on board a dhow in Doha Bay to promote the Qatar Open.

Federer took the chance to state his aim of reclaiming the title of the planet's best player, a position he ceded to Nadal over the course of 2008.

It is, however, a sign of the shift in the game's world order that Federer's presence atop the boat seemed somewhat presumptious. Following his victory in last week's semi-final in Abu Dhabi, Murray has now beaten the Swiss five of seven times.

Indeed, there is evidence to suggest that Murray has the measure of Nadal too, since he has defeated the Spaniard in each of their last two meetings. Whether Nadal's status as world No.1 is under threat is another matter, especially if Murray is unable to improve his game on clay, a surface on which he has never convinced but where, according to his former coach Alex Corretja - an erstwhile clay-court specialist - he has the potential to make great strides.

For now, Murray can take heart from the knowledge that he has Nadal looking over his shoulder. On Saturday, the world No.1 was out-thought and outbattled by the Scot who, despite tiring badly in the second set, managed to rally in the third to claim a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 win and a cheque for £150,000.

Collateral gains aside, it might give him the psychological edge for the first major of the season. "When we play in the Australian Open, I know I'll be able to beat him in a tight match," said Murray of his exhibition tournament win.

The real action gets under way in Doha this week, where Murray faces the Spaniard Albert Montanes. Federer, who needs one more grand slam title to equal the career record of 14 by Pete Sampras, has won the title twice, in 2005 and 2006. This year, he will face Potito Starace of Italy and could meet Murray in the semis. Nadal will open against Fabrice Santoro of France.

Meanwhile, Marat Safin's black eye was the talk of the Hopman Cup in Perth yesterday after he and his sister Dinara helped Russia to an opening win over Italy in the competition.

Safin, who played with facial bruises and scratches from a recent fight in Moscow, had 14 aces on his way to a 7-6 (5), 6-4 win over Simone Bolelli in the second singles match.

Safin, sporting a hefty bruise under his left eye, said: "It's okay, I can survive. Just some small problem that I wasn't in the right place at the right time. Yes, I won the fight!"

Safina beat Flavia Pennetta 7-5, 6-3 to give Russia a 1-0 lead in the opener but the pair succumbed to Pennetta and Bolelli 5-7, 6-4 and 10-2 in the mixed doubles.