Andy Murray (7/4 ‘Yes’ - Murray Wins A Grand Slam In 2010) is expected to return from an extended rest break at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, starting on February 22.

The British number one decided not to defend his title in Rotterdam this week and wants more time to rest up in the wake of his gruelling run to the final of the Australian Open.

The world number three has also decided to pull out of next week’s ATP World Tour event in Marseille.

A statement on the 22-year-old’s official website said: “After playing in Australia for five weeks, Andy has taken an extra week off to recuperate and recover for the long season ahead.”

Murray was beaten 6-3 6-4 7-6 (13/11) by world number one and four-time winner Roger Federer in Melbourne last month and remains in search of his first Grand Slam victory (Murray 10/3 2010 Wimbledon Men’s Outright).

US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro will also miss next week’s Marseille tournament because of an ongoing wrist injury.

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A tearful Andy Murray insisted he was good enough to win a Grand Slam in reaction to his 6-3 6-4 7-6 (13/11) defeat by Roger Federer in the Australian Open final on Sunday (7/4 ‘Yes’ Murray Wins A Grand Slam In 2010).

The 22-year-old (10/3 second favourite 2010 Wimbledon Men’s Outright) succumbed to his second major final defeat to the same opponent following his 2008 US Open straight sets shocker by Federer, but was hearted by his performance in reaching the final at the Rod Laver Arena.

Muray said: “I’m getting closer (to a Grand Slam). My results in the Grand Slams would show that.

“I’ve just got to keep working hard.”

The Scot will now rise to number three in the world ranking and is pleased to be rubbing shoulders with the likes of Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Murray said his run to the final at Melbourne Park had given him the belief that he could now go on and make his Grand Slam breakthrough.

He added: “I worked really hard to get to this stage. I wanted to win the tournament.

“It was pretty emotional at the end of the match, but I’m hungry to win one. It’s something I’ve wanted since I was 16 or 17, but so far it’s not been good enough.

“I’m sure one day it will be. When it comes, maybe because of the two losses, it will be even better.”

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Andy Murray (13/10 to win – match coupon) is preparing to take on Roger Federer in the Australian Open final and has admitted he will need to play better than ever to beat the Swiss star.

Murray has never won a Grand Slam, compared to the 15 titles that Federer (8/13 to win – match coupon) owns, and is competing in only his second final.

The 22-year-old world number five has only dropped one set on course to the Australian Open final and could be buoyed by the fact he has beaten Federer six times in ten matches, but stated he is aware of the challenge which awaits him at Melbourne Park on Sunday.

Murray (11/2 to win 3-2 – match coupon) said: “I’m going to need to play my best match ever. That’s what I plan on doing. I’ll try and play my best. If I do, I’ve got a good chance of winning.”

“I think if I play my best I’ve got a good chance against anyone. At the top of any sport it can come down to a few points here or there, sometimes a little bit of luck.”

World number one Federer (11/4 to win 3-0 – match coupon) recently came out and said the pressure was more on Murray than himself because he is looking for his maiden Grand Slam title, but claimed this match may not be as tough mentally for the Scot than their meeting in the 2008 US Open final.

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Andy Murray (Murray evens 2010 Australian Open - Men’s Outright) is convinced he can end Britain’s 74-year wait for a male Grand Slam singles champion by winning the Australian Open final on Sunday.

The 22-year-old beat Marin Cilic to become Britain’s first finalist in Melbourne since 1977 but insists he will not be making up the numbers when he faces the winner of the last-four clash between three-time winner Roger Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (Federer 1/6 Tsonga 7/2 - match betting).

Asked if he thought he make his Grand Slam breakthrough, the 22-year-old replied: “Yes, I think so.

“I’ve played my best tennis so far, I just need to do it in one more match. I’ll give it my best shot.”

The world number five was trailing after the first set but proved he was not ready to go home just yet when emerging 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-2 winner in a minute over three hours.

The Scot is convinced he has the form and momentum to triumph but knows he will have to produce his best.

“There’s a lot of pressure in Slam finals and if it’s Roger, he’s going to have the edge in experience,” Murray told BBC 5 live.

“But I feel like if I play my best like I have been this week and fight hard, I’ve definitely got a chance of winning.”

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Rafael Nadal is convinced British number one Andy Murray (Murray 2/9 Cilic 16/5 - match betting) has what it takes to break his Grand Slam duck at the Australian Open.

Spanish sensation Nadal is well-placed to make such an assertion having surrendered his Melbourne Park crown when retiring injured against the 22-year-old in the quarter-finals.

The world number two believes the Scot has the form and momentum (6/4 Murray 3-0 - Set Betting) to send Marin Cilic packing and progress to become the first British male Grand Slam winner since Fred Perry in 1936.

“He has a big chance,” said Nadal.

“I think this is a very good chance for him. For starters, he’s playing really well. And second thing, he’s already in semi-finals. So he is only two matches away.

“Every Grand Slam is special and every Grand Slam is important to win. For Andy, I think he deserves to win his first Grand Slam, and he is going to do it.”

Murray, who reached the US Open final in 2008 and the semi-finals of Wimbledon last year, says he is ready to make his big breakthrough against the elite of men’s tennis.

“I think I’m ready to win a Grand Slam, definitely, and I’ve a good chance of doing it here,” said Murray.

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Defending champion Serena Williams (8/13 2010 Australian Open - Women’s Outright) admitted she had resigned herself to defeat before storming back to reach the semi-finals and shatter the Australian Open dream for Victoria Azarenka.

The top seed came from a set and 4-0 down to post a 4-6 7-6 (7/4) 6-2 win on the Rod Laver Arena to set up a last-four showdown with surprise package Li Na (16/1 2010 Australian Open - Women’s Outright) of China.

The big-hitting American, who won the title at Melbourne Park in 2003, revealed she was thinking of her flight home at her lowest point against Azarenka.

The match turned on its head towards the end of the second set when Williams, who said she was “shocked” and “surprised” to get through, rallied to win five games in a row.

“I didn’t expect to win when I was down 0-4,” said Williams.

“I was actually thinking ‘if I lose today and I lose in doubles I think I can catch a flight on Friday’. That’s not what a champion is supposed to think, but that’s what I was thinking.

‘I’m just happy to still be here.”

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Andy Murray, now the 11/8 favourite with Totesport to win the title, will face Marin Cilic in the Australian Open semi-finals after a quality display against Rafael Nadal on Tuesday.

The world number five reached his third Grand Slam semi-final after Nadal retired hurt with a knee injury in the third set, with Murray already two-sets up.

The Scot will now face 14th seed Cilic in the last four, after the Croatian saw off Wimbledon runner-up Andy Roddick in a five-set epic.

Murray has won three of their four meetings but Cilic (16/1 to win the first Grand Slam of 2010) defeated the British number one at last year’s US Open and the 22-year-old wants to turn the tables.

Murray admitted: “The nerves are going to be there because it is the chance to make the final of a Grand Slam but I lost to him at the US Open so I will be looking for revenge.”

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British number one Andy Murray is confident he has the form and momentum to make it a miserable start to 2010 for world number two Rafael Nadal when they meet in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Tuesday (Murray 4/5 Nadal evens - match betting).

Fifth seed Muray (5/1 Murray 3-2 Set Betting) has yet to drop a set at Melbourne Park and made just eight unforced errors in his 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 6-2 victory over 33rd seed John Isner on Sunday.

Spanish sensation Nadal has won just once in 11 matches against fellow top 10 players since his shock defeat by Robin Soderling at the French Open last year and is without a trophy in eight months.

Murray believes his turn has come against the heavyweights of men’s tennis and is optimistic he can make a grand slam breakthrough.

“I know the match against Rafa is going to be difficult, but I think I can win,” he said.

“I think I’ve got some tactics that work well against him. I’m playing well. There’s no question about that. I just need to make sure I play my best.”

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Tournament fourth seed and world number four Caroline Wozniacki vowed she would return “stronger” in reaction to her disappointing 6-4 6-3 round four defeat by China’s Li Na at the Australian Open (Wozniacki 20/1 - 2010 Wimbledon Women’s Outright).

Li, the 16th seed, who will now tackle Venus Williams of America, joins countrywoman Zheng Jie (Kirilenko 11/10 Zheng 4/6 match betting) for the first two Chinese women have reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam.

Wozniacki appeared troubled by a thigh injury which required a bandage and Li, who beat the US Open finalist in Sydney earlier this month, was able to take control and serve out the match.

Wozniacki said: “I had my chances, especially in the first set leading all the time. I had my chance for 5-2 and I didn’t take it. Then she started well with the new balls.

“There’s a long way to go (in 2010). There’s a long year ahead of me. Now I’m going to go and practice and work even harder and come back stronger hopefully.

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Sam Stosur has said she cannot wait to renew hostilities with defending champion Serena Williams when they meet in the last 16 of the Australian Open.

Big-hitter Williams, an 11-time Grand Slam champion, made sure of her progress by completing a 6-0 6-3 victory over Carla Suarez-Navarro.

Stosur, the 13th seed at Melbourne Park, opened play on Rod Laver Arena with a 6-4 6-1 triumph against Alberta Brianti of Italy.

The pair’s last meeting, on the Stanford hard courts in 2009, in which Australian number one Stosur prevailed 6-2 3-6 6-2, ended in controversy when Williams suggested her opponent was a good “framer”, implying many of her winning shots were miss hits.

Stosur said she was looking forward to challenge of facing the formidable American to prove she can mix it with the elite of women’s tennis.

“I’m looking forward to it,” said Stosur. “I’ve lived up to my expectation and I’ve got to where I should have got to.

“Playing the number one player in the world, defending champion, I can go out there and really enjoy it.”