• ATP Tour

'Relaxed' Murray to kick off against world No. 199

ESPN staff
January 1, 2013
Andy Murray is feeling confident ahead of the Australian Open © PA Photos
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Andy Murray will start 2013 with a meeting against world No. 199 John Millman as he begins the defence of his Brisbane International title.

Murray is set to step up his preparations for the Australian Open, where he has twice reached the final in the past three years.

The British No. 1 also reached the semi-finals last year, and will be among the favourites to win the tournament when it begins in under two weeks' time.

And Murray predicts his recent US Open victory will help him relax in the big matches.

"The last few years I got close but never managed to get over the final hurdle," Murray said on Tuesday.

"Now that I've managed to do it, I hope that when I'm in those situations again I'll deal with them better. I probably just feel a little bit more relaxed than I normally do."

Murray will hope for a good run in this week's Brisbane International, where he will face Millman in the second round after the Australian beat Tatsuma Ito 6-4 6-1. Millman fired down seven aces and broke four times en route to victory.

Home favourite Lleyton Hewitt is also into round two after he beat Igor Kunitsyn 6-3 4-6 6-2. Hewitt will now face Denis Istomin who overcame Martin Klizan 6-1 6-2.

Other winners in Brisbane on Tuesday included Tommy Robredo, David Goffin, Alejandro Falla and Grigor Dimitrov.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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