Andy Murray Has a Lot Riding on Strong Australian Open Performance

After a tough season in 2014, doubts are beginning to surface over Andy Murray's long-term ability to compete at the top level, but the Scot can send out a real statement with a strong showing at the Australian Open.

A 59-20 season saw Murray tumble to sixth in the ATP world rankings and is likewise seeded sixth in Melbourne.

Aside from Rafael Nadal in an exhibition match, he also hasn't beaten a fellow member of the "Big Four" since undergoing surgery on his back in September 2013.

This must certainly be a concern. Though he's only 27, Murray runs the risk of having his chances of a third Grand Slam severely hampered by an increasingly large field of quality opposition.

Nadal and Novak Djokovic will be a constant threat for the remainder of his career, while the emergence in recent years of Marin Cilic, Kei Nishikori, Grigor Dimitrov and Milos Raonic will be a worry.

If Murray doesn't put in a strong showing in Slams this year, he might start looking like a wounded gazelle surrounded by a pack of hyenas.

With Australia being the first Slam on the calendar, it's all the more important that he sends out a powerful message now, to show that reports of his demise have been greatly exaggerated.

If he can do this, it will work wonders for his confidence and the other contenders will sit up and take notice.

There's a long time to dwell before the French Open. While that gives Murray the chance to build up some steam, that long stretch is not a time where you want to be plagued with self-doubt.

Murray has also been in the spotlight since swapping Ivan Lendl for Amelie Mauresmo as his coach.

Murray has not won a Slam since joining forces with Mauresmo in June last year, so the pressure is really on for them to coax the best out of him in Melbourne.

If they don't, more upheaval with his coaches could be on the cards, something he can ill afford as he looks to bounce back from last year.

Mark Baker/Associated Press

Murray doesn't necessarily need to win the Slam, but for him to feel like he's turned a corner, then a semi-final place is needed at least. Certainly, a fourth Australian final will be a big ask. 

The Scot's potential route through the tournament is fraught with danger.

Assuming he beats Portugal's Joao Sousa in Round 3, Murray then faces a possible gauntlet of Dimitrov, Roger Federer, Nadal and Djokovic.

Tenth-seed Dimitrov ended Murray's Wimbledon reign in the quarter-finals last year, so he will prove a big threat. Federer, meanwhile, humiliated Murray in their last encounter, 6-0, 6-1, at the ATP World Finals in November.

The good news for Murray is that he seems to be improving with each game. A promising performance at the Hopman Cup preceded the tournament, and the sixth seed has cruised to the third round with little difficulty so far.

The 27-year-old was calm and collected in his comfortable straight-sets win over Marinko Matosevic in Round 2, making just 12 unforced errors. Murray also managed to win a clinical 85 percent of the points on his first serve and 52 percent of his receiving points.

Given that Murray's service game used to let him down somewhat in comparison with the other top players, this is a good indication, and he will need to maintain this level as he advances through the tournament.

Rob Griffith/Associated Press

After the Wimbledon and ATP World Finals defeats, Murray will have extra motivation against Dimitrov and Federer.

This could well be enough to get him past Dimitrov, but Federer will take a special performance to overcome. 

Murray has something to prove; a Federer-defying performance is in him, and he needs to make sure he finds it.

Even if Murray doesn't win the Slam, beating a big name would be massive. If he can get past Dimitrov without being taken to an exhausting five-set epic, then he can avenge the embarrassment inflicted upon him by the Swiss maestro.

For the sake of his season, he needs to. If Murray fails to make an impact here, then he's got another long and difficult year ahead, and the wait for a third Slam will roll on.