Murray itching to hold court

Andy Murray is determined to end his injury-ravaged season on a high and lay the foundations for another consistent assault on the world's top 10 early next year.

Murray has slumped to 18th in the world rankings after missing three months with a wrist injury and also being ruled out of both Wimbledon and the French Open but after playing twice in Great Britain's Davis Cup World Group play-off victory over Croatia, Murray already has next the Australian Open in sight.

"I'm looking forward to just getting a run of tournaments in a row when I'm feeling fit and healthy. The last time I had that was in February or March time," Murray said. "The most important thing for me at the end of the year is to be feeling fit and healthy and trying to maintain my ranking so that I'll have a good season for the Australian Open."

Murray's end-of-year schedule involves five tournaments in Metz, Moscow, Madrid, St Petersburg and Paris. So desperate is he for matches that he finished the Davis Cup win by playing a dead rubber against Roko Karanusic.

Murray added: "I want to try to finish the year playing quite a few tournaments and get some matches in. I don't really have any points to defend because I only won two or three matches between now and the end of last year."

Murray will be an interested observer of Thursday's Davis Cup draw in London, in which his team can expect one of a number of daunting World Group ties, including trips to Spain, Argentina or the United States.