Andy Murray at the Australian Open

Andy Murray entered this years Australian Open in a period of his career which he will admit he is playing his best tennis. From his maiden grand slam win in Flushing Meadows to his Olympic Gold Medal last summer, Andy has been on the form of his life, and it extended to the first grand slam of the year.

As we approached the start of the Australian Open many questions were being asked about whether Andy Murray could be come the first man to follow up his maiden grand slam victory with another championship title. These questions looked to be answered positively, after the Briton won the Brisbane International final in straight sets against Grigor Dimitrov. Murray looked to be on top form and it looked set to continue into the first round of the Australian Open.

On a sunny Monday morning in Melbourne, It was Murray's turn to take to the court at Rod Laver Arena, where he faced the Dutchman Robin Haase. Andy wasn't tested at all, easing to victory in just one hour and 37 minutes. Haase couldn't react to the dominant play and powerful shots that Murray dishes out. Victory was Murray's in straight sets 6-3 6-1 6-3. So it was apparent after Murray's first round match that his momentum had continued from Brisbane, and his opponents would have to play the tennis of their lives to defeat the world number three.

Into round 2 it was for Andy Murray, after an easy first round match, would the number three seed be tested in the second round. His next opponent was Joao Sousa of Portugal, who is currently ranked 91 in the world. In a very hot Hisense Arena Murray stormed to victory with a 6-2 6-2 6-4 win over the Portuguese player. It was the power from Murray's shots that kept Sousa at bay from the beginning of the match, Sousa just couldn't match the class of the number three seed. Murray hadn't dropped a set so far at the first grand slam of the year has he breezed into the third round where he faced world number 110 Ricardas Berankis.

On a warm Saturday afternoon in Melbourne, Murray faced Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania in his third round match. Murray, groaned and grumbled, but he was gutsy, he saw off a challenge from the ranked 110 qualifier, to take a 6-3 6-4 7-5 victory that afternoon. The Briton said "he [Berankis] made it tough". Perhaps Murray's tough armor was slightly dented that afternoon in Melbourne Park as his opponent races up the rankings and will be a player to look out for in the future. But, nevertheless, Murray pulled through in straight sets, he was tested, but succeeded. How would Murray 1.0 have coped in this situation,  Murray 2.0 coped very well!

Up next on Murray's hit list was Gilles Simon, who stood in the way of Murray's place in the quarter-finals. To reach the fourth round Simon had to emerge from a grueling five hour match, perhaps he would no longer be a major threat to Murray. For the fourth match in a row Murray hadn't dropped a set, defeating an exhausted Simon in one hour and 32 minutes. Andy had now reached his fourth consecutive quarter-final at the Australian Open. So it seems Murray wasn't tested in the opening few matches in Melbourne, storming to victory after victory, the new super fit Murray was no match for his opponents. 

It was Wednesday in Melbourne when Murray played his quarter-final match against Frenchman Jeremy Chardy. Murray said: "I think you have to trust yourself that when you are tested, you're going to play better tennis." Andy admitted to being tested against Chardy, but nevertheless he won in straight sets for the fifth match in a row, 6-4 6-1 6-2. It was the US Champion who came out in a fiery mood, breaking straight away against the Frenchman. After a poor start from Chardy, he did start to apply pressure to the world number three. Although Andy appeared threatened for a few games, he pulled through to set-up a semi-final match against Roger Federer.

As Murray knew and all of his supporters knew, he had never defeated Roger Federer in a grand slam match. Although for many Federer was the favourite going into this semi-final tie, many believed the new grand slam champion, Murray, should not be written off that easily, especially when he is playing the best tennis of his career so far. In a grueling four match at the Rod Laver Arena, it was Andy that finally clinched victory after dominating from the first point, but the experience that Federer oozes kept his hope's alive after his brilliance in the tie-breaks. 

This was the first time when supporters of Murray were worried that he wouldn't progress to the final after easy opening round matches. Perhaps Andy had built a feeling of complacency after hardly being tested by his previous opponents, but this wasn't the case during the match. There was a scare during the second set, after Murray had dominated so much, Federer was coming back at him but it wasn't enough. After the Briton was well and truly tested in his semi-final clash with the number two seed, it was time to face Novak Djokovic in the final of the Australian Open.

The day of the final was upon us, Sunday 27th January 2013. The eyes of the world were focused on Rod Laver Arena with history being made who ever wins. If Novak Djokovic won, he would be the first man since 1967 to win three consecutive Australian Open titles. If Andy Murray went onto win, he would be the first man to win a grand slam immediately after his maiden championship victory. 

Andy appeared to be in charge from the beginning of the match, taking the first two sets 6-7 7-6. But, in the second set glimpses of the old Murray appeared. A Murray who would lose his momentum, and his frustration would give his opponent an advantage. Djokovic took the advantage and took control of the tie-break, Murray won just one point. Novak was in charge now and he wasn't going to let Murray cruise to the title. Djokovic eventually took the championship after playing the most dominant tennis in the world, Murray just couldn't respond to what the Serb sent his way.

Although Murray was unable to become the first man to win a grand slam immediately after his first championship win, Murray proved that he is in the best form of his life. He breezed through his opening round matches, he didn't even drop a set. The Murray 2.0 under the great coaching of Ivan Lendal is a multiple-grand slam winning contender. Murray's best tournaments are in front of him, let's sit back and enjoy his future success.