Murray plays down Australian Open chances after tricky draw

Scot is seeded four but has been out of action after surgery, favourite Djokovic is on a roll

Andy Murray
(Image credit: 2014 Getty Images)

ANDY MURRAY will face Japan's Go Soeda next week in the first round of the Australia Open. The three-time finalist returned to competition last month after a long lay-off following back surgery, but has already moved to damped expectations, insisting it would be "unrealistic" to expect him win in Melbourne so soon after his operation.

The 2013 Wimbledon champion should have little difficulty disposing of the 29-year-old Soeda, the world number 112, a tenacious if limited player. Assuming he does beat the Japanese star, the 26-year-old Murray, seeded fourth at the tournament, will face the winner of a match between two qualifiers in round two.

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Bill Mann is a football correspondent for The Week.co.uk, scouring the world's football press daily for the popular Transfer Talk column.