Murray up for early Berrettini challenge at Australian Open: "I feel ready to play a top player early in the event"

Andy Murray will face Matteo Berrettini in the first round of the Australian Open and he's ready for the challenge having played Berrettini last year.

Murray and Berrettini played each other a couple of times last year with Berrettini faring better. He defeated Murray in the Stuttgart final where he sustained the injury that derailed his Wimbledon as well. They played at the US Open as well and once again it was Berrettini who proved better.

Speaking ahead of the event, Murray said:

“Obviously [it is] a tough draw. But I also feel I am in a much better place than I was during any of the Slams last year coming into it. I feel well prepared. I feel ready to play a top player early in the event. Whereas last year at times, my game didn’t feel that great and getting a difficult draw didn’t feel great. I feel I am in a better place this time to deal with that."

He continued:

“I know how I am feeling today compared to when I went into the match at the US Open and I am playing better. I am in a better place physically. I feel well prepared for the event. Obviously the matches I have played against him [before], you would hope you would learn stuff from and take stuff away from it that will help you go into the next one.”

Asked to break down what is improved, Murray explained:

“In the matches that I have played [this year], my movement was significantly better than what it would have been at this stage last year. When I move well, I tend to play well and it is really important for me. That is probably the thing I am happiest about since I got here. The conditions are playing pretty fast, so when the conditions are quick it is even more important to be light on your feet and move well. I think that has been the biggest improvement.”