Tennis news - Alex Corretja - Anything Andy Murray achieves now will be a bonus

Murray, 31, played a warm-up match on Thursday against US Open champion Novak Djokovic but looked short of fitness, leading to concerns over whether he will be able to compete again following hip surgery.

Murray is set to play in the Australian Open, shown live on Eurosport and the Eurosport Player, but Corretja thinks that given everything the two-time Wimbledon champion has achieved so far, anything else will be an added bonus.

When asked whether Murray can reach his former glories Corretja, a former world number four who will be working for Eurosport during the event said: "We need time to find out about that. It’s definitely not an easy one when you are over 30.

"I just think he needs to have as much fun as possible. As I said, number one priority for Andy is to be healthy. He’s got a tough draw, we know that, and he’ll know that. Andy knows what it takes to do well in a Slam.

"He could have faced Nadal or Djokovic so anything can happen so it’s not a disaster. Now he’s facing Bautista, it’s going to be one of those matches in the first round that fans love – long rallies, players suffering – it will be very entertaining for the crowd."

Murray's opponent in the first round is the in-form Roberto Bautista Agut, a match-up Corretja feels will be tough for both but reiterates that it could have been worse given the Scot's lack of seeding.

"Against Bautista, he knows it is going to be a big battle, long rallies, which will be very demanding on both players. At the same time, he knows the way Bautista plays, he knows what to expect. I think it’s a good test for both.

"It’s a tough draw for both, but whoever wins a match like this in a Slam gets a lot of confidence and rhythm that sets them up well for the rest of the tournament. Usually the guy who wins goes really well and is a dangerous prospect.

"Andy knows he probably could have faced a player who isn’t in as good form as Bautista, but at the same time it isn’t a good draw for Bautista either – in fact, I’d say it was one of the worst draws he could have faced. Both sides will feel doubtful about the situation, obviously Bautista has more rhythm at the moment, but once you start a Grand Slam everyone starts from zero.

"Andy knows the conditions really well, he has reached finals in Melbourne, so I see a really open match – maybe Bautista has better rhythm and a greater physical condition and shape at the moment."