McEnroe tips Murray for Australia title

Seven-time grand slam winner John McEnroe believes Andy Murray can claim his first major success at the Australian Open later this month.

The 22-year-old Murray will be aiming to become the first Briton since Fred Perry in 1936 to win a grand slam when the tournament begins next Monday.

Fifth seed Murray's task has been complicated, however, by a difficult-looking draw which McEnroe helped conduct at Melbourne Park today.

While Murray drew a qualifier in the first round he faces the daunting prospect of meeting defending champion Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals.

The Spaniard has, however, not won an ATP Tour title in eight months and with a fitness cloud over Juan Martin del Potro - who Murray is scheduled to meet in the semi-finals - McEnroe believes the Scot can claim a breakthrough success.

"Each time he doesn't (win a major), the pressure sort of builds, but hardcourts are his favourite surface," he said.

"He laid an egg in the (2009 US) Open when he lost to (Marin) Cilic; it was not a good effort. Cilic played well, but it was really surprising - to me it (the Australian Open) is there for the taking because there are questions about some of the other guys."

McEnroe warned that world number Roger Federer would be Murray's biggest obstacle, despite the Swiss having not won in Australia since 2007.

Federer has reached the semi-finals of the past 22 grand slams and would only meet Murray at Melbourne Park if the two reached the final.

"He's amazing, obviously; the guy is to me the greatest player that ever lived," McEnroe said.

"There's nowhere to go but down in a way, he's already broken every record, and it seems at some stage you have to level off.

"I was so amazed that after losing here last year in the finals that he was able to rebound and win the French for the first time, and then break the record (for Grand Slam singles titles won) at Wimbledon.

"If you look at his record, it's going to be pretty hard to say that Roger Federer won't at least get to the semis."