CROWD PEASER; TENNIS: FRENCH OPEN: Andy's stealing chart stars' thunder in Paris.

Byline: ALIX RAMSAY

ANDY MURRAY has spent the past few years rocketing up the rankings. Now he's churning up the charts.

The world No.3 is fast becoming as big as the pop idols he listens to with the Scots tennis star winning the fame game, set and match. Murray is sharing his Paris hotel with the Black Eyed Peas - the band he used to tune in to before every match when he first broke through in 2005 - and although they were the main attraction for groupies the 22-year-old is now beginning to grab all the attention.

Rubbing shoulders with the pop world has become a regular feature of Murray's Grand Slam life.

He stayed at the same hotel as the Prodigy while at the Australian Open and shared a five-star residence with Duffy at the US.

Murray said: "I haven't seen the Black Eyed Peas yet although a lot of people have been waiting outside for them each time we come back to the hotel.

"I never thought the people were waiting to see me but I have had a few photos and stuff taken with them."

If Paris pop fans are just learning about Murray's fame, the whole of Roland Garros has long known all about the Dunblane youngster.

They'll get the chance to again witness him in action today as he takes on Janko Tipsarevic for a place in the fourth round - a match that represents the fifth meeting of their careers with each having two wins to their name.

Tipsarevic may only be ranked 65 in the world but he's had his moments at Grand Slams.

Last summer the Serb upended Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in the second round - the American's worst defeat in his eight years at SW19 - and he also came within a whisker of beating Roger Federer at the Australian Open six months before that.

Tipsarevic said: "I'm brave when I play against top guys. I have enough years on tour behind me not to be afraid of a top-10 player. Let's see how it goes. I'm really looking forward to the match.

"Every time I played Andy it was a really, really close match. Every player knows that against Andy you have to be aggressive since he doesn't miss too many balls from the back.

"On the other hand he's probably the best defender on tour. But I realise he's still not 100 per cent comfortable on clay."

Murray refuses to leave anything to chance as Tipsarevic swings into view. After all, Murray had enough of a fright against Potito Starace in the last round to take a risk. Murray said: "I have played Janko quite a few times and he's a tricky customer. He normally plays better when he faces a higher level of competition - as seen against Federer at the Aussie Open.

"He is a tough guy to play against. He serves big, moves well and is a good shot-maker. It will be a tough match."

Roger Federer survived a major scare to secure his place in the third round. The Swiss second seed ended up beating Argentina's Jose Acasus 7-6 5-7 7-6 6-2 but could easily have lost the first three sets.

Thrilled Federer saved four set points in the first-set tie-break and another one midway through the third set against the world No.45.

Afterwards he said: "We both could have won the first three sets so I'm thrilled to have got through such a tough match."

Jamie Murray suffered his seventh first-round defeat of the year when he and PavelVisner were beaten 6-3 6-2 by Leos Friedl and David Skoch.

Jamie said: "We always seemed to come off second best in the long rallies for some reason."

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BLACK EYED PEAS AND BLUE-EYED BOY: Murray is rubbing shoulders with his old pop idols, right