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 (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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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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British hope Andy Murray remains on course for a place in the Australian Open quarter-finals for the first time in his career following his 7-5 6-1 6-4 third-round success against Florent Serra – but has warned of a much tougher challenge against either Gael Monfils or John Isner in the fourth round (4/1 4th Round - Murray Stage Of Elimination).

The 22-year-old was tested in the opening exchanges by world number 64 Serra but looked much more comfortable as the match unfolded.

The fifth raced raced to a 3-0 lead before finally edging the first set whereas the second set was a lot more routine.

The young Scot survived another wobble in the third to wrap up his third consecutive straight-sets win.

“The first set was a bit closer than it needed to be. I had chances to go 4-0 up,” he told BBC Sport. “I am delighted to win in straight sets.”

He will now face the winner of the game between Monfils, seeded 12th, of France and Isner of America.

“Both are really tough players,” he added. “Monfils is one of the best athletes on the tour - he can chase every ball down and is very unpredictable.

“Isner is tough. He won last week and beat Andy Roddick at the US Open. He is 6′9″ and causes people problems.”

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British number one Andy Murray set up a third-round (10/1 3rd round Murray Stage Of Elimination) Australian Open clash against Florent Serra of France – and described his form as “solid”.

Murray (11/2 Australian Open 2010 - Men’s Outright)  raced to a routine 6-1 6-4 6-3 victory against Marc Gicquel, also of France, under the lights with some blistering tennis.

The young Scot powered his way to a 6-1 lead in just 24 minutes and looked comfortable in the second one he got an early break.

The world number five was broken for the first time in the event in the third but broke back twice against his opponent, ranked number 57 in the world, in blustery conditions at the Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne Park.

A delighted Murray, who has never made it past the fourth round at the Australian Open, said: “It was a good performance because the conditions were tricky. I thought it was solid.”

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Andy Murray felt comfortable playing under the roof at the Australian Open (Murray 11/2 Mens Outright) on Monday and claims it is similar to playing at Wimbledon.

The 22-year-old British number one breezed into the second round courtesy of a 6-1 6-1 6-2 victory against South African qualifier Kevin Anderson under the Rod Laver Arena roof because rain had left the outdoor courts at Melbourne Park waterlogged.

Murray, who will face France’s Marc Gicquel (Murray 1/50, Gicquel 12/1 Tennis Coupon) in the second round on Wednesday, enjoyed the experience and felt it produced conditions that he is used to at Wimbledon.

The tournament’s fifth seed, who is aiming to clinch his first Grand Slam title Down Under, said: “You create your own atmosphere on the court, but the conditions are similar to Wimbledon (Murray 4/1 Wimbledon Outright) with the roof.

“It actually slows the court down like at Wimbledon. It gets quite humid in there, whereas it’s pretty dry heat normally, and it’s just quite heavy.

“It slows the court down a bit, so that was a bit different.”

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Andy Murray (4/1 Wimbledon 2010 - Outright) overcame a bout of nerves to beat qualifier Kevin Anderson 6-1 6-1 6-2 in the first round of the Australian Open – then warned his rivals he expects to get better.

The British number one could not have wished for a more routine opening to his Melbourne Park campaign and did not drop a service game under the Rod Laver Arena roof to send his South African opponent packing.

The 22-year-old was underwhelmed by a paltry 35 per cent of his first serves in play and revealed he did not quite know what to expect from 6ft 8in Anderson, the world’s 148th-ranked player.

However, Anderson proved no match and Murray, who is looking to go beyond the fourth round for the first time in his career, said he was satisfied with his overall performance.

“I’d like to have served bit better,” Murray said.

He added: “I feel good. I got here 10 days earlier than I’ve done in the last three years.

“I feel good and I think that match proved it.”

The young Scot will face France’s Marc Gicquel or Italy’s Simone Bolelli (1/2 Gicquel 6/4 Bolelli - match betting) in round two.

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