Tennis; Robredo shows form

With a big week in Auckland ahead of him, Spain's Tommy Robredo showed he is in top form with a 1-6 6-4 6-3 defeat of Britain's Andy Murray in the final of the Hopman Cup.

World No16 Robredo is yet to make it past the quarter-finals of a grand slam but wants to make his mark in a major.

"I did a great thing to be in the top 20, top 30 all of my career," Robredo said. "But I've never reached a semifinal in a grand slam, so that's the thing I would like to try and that's why I'm working hard every day."

World No4 Andy Murray declared himself ready to win the Australian Open after receiving the "perfect preparation" in Perth.

Murray put in an impressive display at the $1.25 million ITF mixed teams event, winning all three of his singles matches in the group stage before suffering a surprise defeat in the final.

The 22-year-old Scot, who is yet to taste Grand Slam glory, said his defeat to Robredo was merely a hiccup and was confident of going all the way at Melbourne Park.

"I'm sure if you ask [Roger] Federer how he's feeling this week going into Australia after losing to [Nikolay] Davydenko [in Qatar], I'm pretty sure it's not going to put a whole lot of doubts into his mind," Murray said. "I feel good. I think I'm ready to win it.

"I'm serving well, moving well and playing the ball better than I have done for a long time from the back of the court.

"I've volleyed well this week so there's not a lot to complain about.

"I'm sure with another week of training and practise I'll be playing better and if I can do that, there's a good chance I can win [in Melbourne]."

Murray, who has never made it past the round of 16 at the Australian Open despite starting last year's tournament as favourite, is likely to play an exhibition match at the Kooyong Classic.

He said straight sets wins over Andrey Golubev, Philipp Kohlschreiber and Igor Andreev at the Hopman Cup had lifted his confidence heading into the first major of the year.

"I'm really happy with the way I played all week," he said. "I felt great on court and I think it was perfect preparation for the Aussie Open.

Murray's partner at the Hopman Cup, 15-year-old Laura Robson, was granted a wildcard into the Australian Open qualifying tournament.

Britain lost the Hopman Cup final to Spain 2-1 despite Robson notching an upset 6-1 7-6 (8-6) win over world No26 Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez. Spain clinched the title with a thrilling 7-6 (8-6) 7-5 win in the mixed doubles.

- AAP