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Perth - Scotsman Andy Murray believes he still needs to improve if he is to land a maiden Grand Slam tournament victory and overcome the challenge presented by two of the greatest players the game has ever seen.
Last year Murray, who is ranked No 4 in the world, reached the final at the Australian Open, where he lost to an inspired Roger Federer, and the semi-finals at Wimbledon, where Rafael Nadal ended his quest.
Speaking in Perth Sunday as he prepared to partner teenager Laura Robson for Great Britain in the mixed-teams Hopman Cup, Murray, 23, admitted he had work to do to improve his chances against the world Nos 1 and 2.
His last game of 2010, when he was beaten by Nadal in a thrilling three-set semi-final at the ATP Finals in London at the end of November, was a "great match", he said, and "a good way in many ways to finish the year".
But he added: "It would have been good to win the match... I had to go away and realise that I played a great match but that I still needed to get better if I want to beat Rafa and Roger in the Slams.
"That is hopefully what I have been able to do."
He has been concentrating on improving his serve in the off-season.
"One of the most important shots in the game is the serve, the serve and the return, and I have worked a lot on my serve," he said.
"I think from the baseline I have matched up well with Roger and Rafa in the past, but I'll need to serve well and return well against them if I want to beat them."
Murray conceded that he lacked consistency last year. After his Australian Open final appearance, he lost in the second round in Dubai, Miami and Monte Carlo, although he also won Masters events at Shanghai and Toronto during the year, beating Federer in both finals.
But he only reached the third round of the US Open, and the fourth round in the French Open.
"It was just a very up and down season last year," Murray admitted. "I played great at the Aussie Open, I played great again at Wimbledon, and then the periods in between weren't so good.
"I still finished four in the world and won a couple of the big Masters Series, but yeah, obviously I would have liked it to have been more consistent."
As he did 12 months ago, Murray turned his back on the season-opening Qatar Open in Doha to use the Hopman Cup as preparation for the Australian Open later this month.
The mixed teams event, with a guarantee of six matches -- three singles and three mixed doubles -- in the Perth heat was perfect for his needs heading to Melbourne, he said.
He had fond memories of last year's Australian Open, he added, despite being been beaten in straight sets in the final.
"This will be a good gauge here to see where my game is at and what I am going to need to work on getting ready for the Australian Open," he said of the Hopman Cup.
But Nadal and Federer still loom as formidable obstacles to fulfilling his Grand Slam dreams.
"Last year's Aussie Open was one of the best events that I have played in my life," said Murray.
"I played some of my best tennis, but I'll have to play even better if I want to win (this year), because Rafa and Roger are playing so well just now."
