• Australian Open

Murray plans to improvise in Melbourne opener

Andy Murray will meet Karol Beck in the first round © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Federer cruises through as Davydenko crashes out
  
• News: Wozniacki and Venus advance unscathed
  
• News: Murray bullish about major chances
  
• Profile: Andy Murray

ESPN will be providing extensive coverage of the Australian Open, with live scores, commentary and analysis and you can follow it all with our live scorecentre

Andy Murray will be forced to rely on his quick judgment when he takes on Karol Beck in Melbourne on Tuesday.

The Slovakian will be an unknown quantity for the British No. 1, who has never played the 28-year-old, but despite his limited preparation Murray is confident he will be able to make any adaptations to his game on court.

"I haven't spoken to anyone that has played him," Murray said. "I haven't practised with him either. It will be one of those matches where you don't really know your opponent particularly well. I will have to work a few things out when I am on court."

Beck may be ranked outside the world's top 100, but the world No. 5 is taking nothing for granted.

"He's been around a long time and I think he plays like a lot of the Slovak, Czech players - he is a very flat hitter of the ball," Murray said. "He's very talented and has been a good player in the past."

Murray joined the likes of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Roddick, as well as many of the top women's players in 'Rally for Relief', a charity exhibition match to raise money for the devastating floods in Queensland.

It comes 12 months after Federer organised 'Hit for Haiti', when the sport's big names raised money for aid following the earthquake in Haiti, and Murray believes a similar event would be popular at Wimbledon.

"As tennis players, we are very fortunate in many ways, but one of the best things about our sport is that we can come together to raise funds for those in need. This is important to me," Murray told The Australian.

"Last January, in Melbourne, we arranged a similar thing in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake. This year it has been for the people whose country we love visiting. In New York, before the US Open, the stars help in the Arthur Ashe kids' day to raise funds for underprivileged children and we do a similar thing in Paris at the French Open.

"The success and popularity of these events is the reason why I plan to approach the people running Wimbledon to see if something similar can be organised. After all, aside from raising finds for those in need, it's also a whole lot of fun for both the players and fans, as we saw yesterday in Melbourne."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.