Tennis: No seed of doubt for Murray ahead of Beck

The Scot slipped below Robin Soderling last week following the Swede's tournament success in Brisbane although the significance was reduced when the pair were placed in the same quarter of the draw.

Murray is a strong believer that to win a major you have to beat the best irrespective of seeding.

He said: "To be honest I don't really care (about being seeded five). Last year I was seeded five here and made it to the final. But I have been No 4 and lost in the third round of slams.

"I don't think it really makes a whole lot of difference where you are seeded.

"You have to play one of the top guys maybe a round earlier but all of the players are incredibly difficult to beat.

"It wasn't something that I was worried about or thinking about when the draw was getting done."

Murray opens his challenge against Karol Beck tomorrow with Soderling a scheduled last-eight opponent.

World No 1 Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer would then be likely opponents in the semis and final.

The 23-year-old from Dunblane knocked Nadal out in the quarters last year, the Spaniard retiring when two sets and 3-0 down, on his run to the final where he suffered a convincing defeat by Federer.

And he admits he has suffered plenty of highs and lows in Melbourne where he has twice gone out in the first round but also played some of the finest tennis of his career.

"I have very good memories from here but I have some bad ones as well," he added.

"I've had a couple of very tough losses but obviously last year I played some of the best tennis of my life throughout the tournament.

"I always enjoy playing here, I think it's a fun place for all the players to come. Everything is incredibly easy.

"We are staying at the same place as last year and everyone enjoys it."

Anne Keothavong yesterday became the third Briton to make it into the main draws at the Australian Open after coming through qualifying.

The Londoner, ranked 118 in the world, advanced to the first-round proper after seeing off the challenge of Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu 6-3 6-4 on court eight at Melbourne Park.

She could face countrywoman Elena Baltacha – the only other British woman in the main draw.