Murray's hip hampering his return

Former world No 1 Andy Murray's ranking dropped as low as 839 during 2018 as he played only six tournaments, so the Scot arrives in Melbourne looking to prove he can again compete at the top level.

The three-time major winner and double Olympic champion pulled out of last year's Australian Open to have hip surgery and only returned in June on grass at Queen's Club in London and then played on the same surface at Eastbourne.

He sat out Wimbledon in July and made just four more tournament appearances, including a Grand Slam return at the US Open, before ending his season after Shenzhen in September to concentrate on working his way back to full fitness.