• Hopman Cup

Murray to play with Watson at Hopman Cup

ESPN staff
August 12, 2014
Andy Murray will play at the Hopman Cup for the third time © Getty Images
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Andy Murray will begin his 2015 season at the Hopman Cup as he has teamed up with Heather Watson for the tournament in Perth.

The two-time Grand Slam champion is set to make his third appearance at the mixed team tournament on January 4. The British No.1 reached the final in 2010 with Laura Robson and also played alongside the latter a year later.

"I find it [Hopman Cup] very good preparation for the Australian Open," Murray told the tournament's official website.

"The organisers look after everyone extremely well there. I think just getting there early you get at least three single matches, you get the mixed doubles as well, which is good fun, it sharpens up the net game.

"Now that it's outdoors too, it's absolutely perfect, so I'm looking forward to it."

Watson, who is the women's British No.1, is set to take part in mixed doubles for the first time.

"This will be the first time Andy and I will have played mixed doubles so I hope we can do our best to win the Hopman Cup. That would be brilliant," Watson said.

"I've heard great things about the event. I grew up watching it, so the chance to play and team up with Andy is very exciting."

Nick Kyrgios, the player who knocked out then-world No.1 Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon en route to the quarter-finals, will line up for Australia with Casey Dellacqua.

The 19 year old is the youngest player ranked inside the world's top 100 and wants to impress in front of the home crowd.

"I'm hopefully going to show them that I've improved more since they last saw me play," the world No.58 said, who will make his debut at the tournament.

"I've been working hard and it's another chance to go out there and see where I'm at, to just compete and do what I love to do."

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