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Australian Open, Melbourne
Venue: Melbourne Park Dates: 17-30 January
Coverage: Andy Murray match live on BBC Two and BBC Sport website from 0410 GMT on Tuesday; coverage on BBC TV, Red Button, BBC Sport website & Eurosport; listen on BBC 5 live sports extra and online; text commentary online; full details
Andy Murray said he will have to decide his tactics on court when he takes on Slovakian Karol Beck in the Australian Open first round on Tuesday.
The British number one has never played Beck at senior level, and admits he has done little research on his opponent.
"I haven't spoken to anyone that has played him. I haven't practised with him. I will have to work a few things out when I am on court." said Murray.
Beck, 28, is ranked 101st in the world but has been reached the heights of 36.
He was banned for the sport for two years in 2006 after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs and has not been able to make the top 50 since returning.
"He had some problems off the court a few years ago but he's obviously got a lot of experience so it will be a tough match," added world number five Murray.
"He's been around a long time and I think he plays like a lot of the Slovak, Czech players - he is a very flat hitter of the ball."
Murray's support team has been reduced by Spanish coach Alex Corretja's decision not to travel to Melbourne, leaving the 23-year-old to rely upon mother Judy and hitting partner Dani Vallverdu for advice.
In addition to adapting to Beck's unfamiliar playing style, the weather conditions may force Murray to rethink his approach mid-match.
Sporadic showers in Melbourne forced the Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena roofs to be shut during some of the opening day's matches and Murray, who admitted he struggled the first time he played under Wimbledon's Centre Court roof, believes it could play a big part in proceedings.
"Every court here is going to feel slightly different pace-wise," he added. "But when the roof is on it definitely slows the ball down. I remember playing Kevin Anderson here in the first round last year.
"He had not been broken the whole time through qualifying and the ball just wasn't going anywhere, which worked to my advantage."
Should Murray see off the right-handed Beck this time round, the winner of the match between Illya Marchenko of Ukraine and Ruben Ramirez-Hidalgo of Spain awaits.
Should Murray continue to progress he is predicted to face 32nd seed Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain in the third round before a clash with Austrian 11th seed Juergen Melzer in the fourth.
Although Argentina's former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro, making his way back after a serious wrist injury, takes on Israel's Dudi Sela in round one and could make an intriguing alternative opponent for Murray in the last 16.
The formidable trio of Robin Soderling, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer could then lie between Murray and his first Grand Slam title.
The Scot, who lost in straight sets to Federer in the 2010 final, has said that whatever his progress in this year's event, his participation in the Rally for Relief fundraiser has inspired him to attempt to arrange something similar for Wimbledon.
"In New York, before the US Open, the stars help in the Arthur Ashe kids' day to raise funds for underprivileged children and we do a similar thing in Paris at the French Open," he wrote in his column for the Australian.
"The success and popularity of these events is the reason why I plan to approach the people running Wimbledon."
Highlights - Federer triumphs at Aussie Open
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Venue: Melbourne Park Dates: 17-30 January
Coverage: Andy Murray match live on BBC Two and BBC Sport website from 0410 GMT on Tuesday; coverage on BBC TV, Red Button, BBC Sport website & Eurosport; listen on BBC 5 live sports extra and online; text commentary online; full details
Andy Murray said he will have to decide his tactics on court when he takes on Slovakian Karol Beck in the Australian Open first round on Tuesday.
The British number one has never played Beck at senior level, and admits he has done little research on his opponent.
"I haven't spoken to anyone that has played him. I haven't practised with him. I will have to work a few things out when I am on court." said Murray.
Beck, 28, is ranked 101st in the world but has been reached the heights of 36.
He was banned for the sport for two years in 2006 after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs and has not been able to make the top 50 since returning.
"He had some problems off the court a few years ago but he's obviously got a lot of experience so it will be a tough match," added world number five Murray.
"He's been around a long time and I think he plays like a lot of the Slovak, Czech players - he is a very flat hitter of the ball."
Murray's support team has been reduced by Spanish coach Alex Corretja's decision not to travel to Melbourne, leaving the 23-year-old to rely upon mother Judy and hitting partner Dani Vallverdu for advice.
In addition to adapting to Beck's unfamiliar playing style, the weather conditions may force Murray to rethink his approach mid-match.
Sporadic showers in Melbourne forced the Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena roofs to be shut during some of the opening day's matches and Murray, who admitted he struggled the first time he played under Wimbledon's Centre Court roof, believes it could play a big part in proceedings.
"Every court here is going to feel slightly different pace-wise," he added. "But when the roof is on it definitely slows the ball down. I remember playing Kevin Anderson here in the first round last year.
"He had not been broken the whole time through qualifying and the ball just wasn't going anywhere, which worked to my advantage."
Should Murray see off the right-handed Beck this time round, the winner of the match between Illya Marchenko of Ukraine and Ruben Ramirez-Hidalgo of Spain awaits.
Should Murray continue to progress he is predicted to face 32nd seed Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain in the third round before a clash with Austrian 11th seed Juergen Melzer in the fourth.
Although Argentina's former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro, making his way back after a serious wrist injury, takes on Israel's Dudi Sela in round one and could make an intriguing alternative opponent for Murray in the last 16.
The formidable trio of Robin Soderling, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer could then lie between Murray and his first Grand Slam title.
The Scot, who lost in straight sets to Federer in the 2010 final, has said that whatever his progress in this year's event, his participation in the Rally for Relief fundraiser has inspired him to attempt to arrange something similar for Wimbledon.
"In New York, before the US Open, the stars help in the Arthur Ashe kids' day to raise funds for underprivileged children and we do a similar thing in Paris at the French Open," he wrote in his column for the Australian.
"The success and popularity of these events is the reason why I plan to approach the people running Wimbledon."
Highlights - Federer triumphs at Aussie Open
Print Sponsor
Webmaster Forum | SEO Forum | Coding Forum | Graphics Forum</b>