Andy Murray sets out to end a record run of Australian Open final defeats as his great rival Novak Djokovic vies to become the tournament's greatest champion of all-time
Andy Murray
World No. 1 Andy Murray
Melbourne: Andy Murray sets out to end a record run of Australian Open final defeats as his great rival Novak Djokovic vies to become the tournament's greatest champion of all-time.
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World No. 1 Murray is looking to avoid becoming the first man in the post-1968 Open era to lose six Grand Slam finals at the same major. His coach Ivan Lendl lost five finals at the US Open before he broke through in New York in 1985. Murray, who opens his campaign with a match against Ukraine's Illya Marchenko on Rod Laver Arena, says he's in a better position this time to finally break through for his maiden Australian Open. "I obviously feel pretty confident after the way the last season finished," Murray said. "I do love it here. I love the conditions. I have played really well here over the years, and I just haven't managed to get over the final hurdle. But I think I'm in a decent position to do it. I think I have a chance to win here."
Murray is coming off a magnificent 2016, which included a second Wimbledon crown, a successful Olympic title defence and knocking Djokovic off the top spot to become World No. 1 for the first time.
Murray is drawn to meet Japanese fifth seed Nishikori or Swiss legend Roger Federer in the quarter-finals.