Andy Murray will be different this time - Grigor Dimitrov

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Andy MurrayImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Murray lost 6-1 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 to Dimitrov at Wimbledon

Australian Open: Murray v Dimitrov

Date: 25 January Venue: Melbourne Park Time: 09:30 GMT approx

Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and live text commentary on the BBC Sport website.

Grigor Dimitrov expects a tougher test from Andy Murray at the Australian Open on Sunday than when he ended the Briton's Wimbledon reign in July.

The 23-year-old Bulgarian, seeded 10th, won their quarter-final tie at the All England Club in straight sets, with Murray, 27, well below his best.

They will meet on Sunday at around 09:30 GMT, with a place in the last eight at stake.

"That day it was not him out there. I think we all know that," said Dimitrov.

"You hardly ever see top players feel really flat early on in a match. It's a different scenario this time."

Murray made 37 errors as he lost in a little over two hours on Centre Court, and Dimitrov said afterwards that he had known from the knock-up that all was not well.

Media caption,

Australian Open: Andy Murray looking forward to Dimitrov clash

The Scot was still searching for his very best tennis following back surgery, and had just begun working with coach Amelie Mauresmo following the departure of Ivan Lendl.

Both those issues are long since resolved, and Dimitrov added: "I think he has a lot to look forward to.

"Adding up the new team, it's all fresh. I think it's going to give him a bit more excitement to compete, which I'm certainly aware of.

"But at the same time, I feel that I'm pretty stable around me as well. The only thing I can do is get out there and play my tennis."

Murray, 27, holds a 4-2 lead over Dimitrov in previous meetings and won impressively when the pair last met at the Paris Masters indoor event in November.

That result helped the Briton, seeded sixth in Melbourne, put the disappointment of his Wimbledon defeat behind him.

Image source, Reuters
Image caption,

Andy Murray has yet to drop a set in the three matches he has played so far at this year's Australian Open

"I try to look forward," Murray told BBC Sport. "It happens in every job, every part of life - sometimes you have bad days.

"I don't feel like I played my best tennis that day. The first week of Wimbledon I played some really good tennis, it was just unfortunate.

"I've trained hard, I've prepared well to get ready for this event and this year. I feel like I've played some good tennis so far. Hopefully I'll do the same on Sunday."

Murray and Dimitrov have been given the high-profile second night match on Rod Laver Arena, following the women's fourth-round match between Simona Halep and Yanina Wickmayer.

That decision means Australian hopes Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic have still to play on the main show court, seen as a "snub", external by some local media.

Tomic will play Tomas Berdych on Margaret Court Arena, before Kyrgios faces Andreas Seppi on Hisense Arena.

Lleyton Hewitt is the only Australian man to have played on Rod Laver Arena so far this year, but asked about the prospect of missing out again, Kyrgios said: "I don't mind. I'll request Court 20. I don't mind."

Three steps to beating Dimitrov

1. Attack the forehand. Dimitrov has a very high ratio of forehand forced errors (59) to winners (57) so far. That means opponents are being well rewarded for pressuring it with depth, power, and rushing his preparation.

2. Step in on second serves. Dimitrov had more double faults (8) than aces (7) in his third round win over Marcos Baghdatis. He is tied for 14th on the double faults total so far for the tournament.

3. Stay strong on break points. Dimitrov is squandering a massive amount of break points, only winning 7/20 against Lukas Lacko in the second round and 4/18 against Baghdatis. That's a lowly 29%. The tournament average is 38%.

(Australian Open analyst Craig O'Shannessy)

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