Murray set to mix it up

ANDY Murray and Laura Robson will team up for Great Britain at the Hopman Cup in January, tournament organisers confirmed yesterday.

World number four Murray and former Wimbledon girls’ champion Robson will compete as a mixed doubles team for the first time, while the format of the tournament means they will each also play singles matches.

The tournament is staged in Perth, Australia, from January 2-9, and Murray’s involvement points to a change in his preparations for the Australian Open, which begins on January 18 in Melbourne.

He has for the past three years started the season by competing in Doha, where this year he beat Roger Federer and Andy Roddick on the way to successfully defending his title.

Hopman Cup director Paul McNamee said: “It’s the first time he’s chosen to prepare for the Australian Open in Australia so that’s a big statement by Andy. He’s never done well at the Australian Open.

“He indicated through his management he wanted to do something different this year.

“They noticed (Novak) Djokovic (in 2008) and (Marat) Safin (in 2005) used the Perth route to win the Australian Open so they are giving it a shot.

“Andy wants to break through for his first grand slam.”