Murray to face ex-world number one
8th January, 2008
Last week’s Quatar Open winner Andy Murray will face ex-world number one Marat Safin in the final warm-up event before the Australian Open. Murray goes into the Kooyong Classic in fine form and will be confident of doing well in the round-robin event, after withdrawals from world number one Rodger Federer and Tommy Haas due to a stomach virus and shoulder surgery respectively.
The field does remain strong though, including Nikolay Davydenko, Andy Roddick, Fernando Gonzalez, David Nalbandian, Ivan Ljubicic, Marcos Baghdatis and Safin.
The Scot has felt the difference that his new coaching team has brought, and a decent period without injury has left him feeling in fine stead: "This year I had pretty much five weeks of training, so I feel physically much stronger," said the 20-year-old.
"Tennis-wise it doesn't feel a whole lot different but I think being physically stronger helps you mentally as well."
Murray is fifth favourite for the title, behind Federer, Djokovic, Nalbandian, and Nadal, at about 15/1 with Bet 365.
