Andy Murray has sounded out Tim Henman for advice on how to cope with the strains of being Britain's big hope for Wimbledon.

Even though the 18-year-old Scot had experienced only positive press since his emergence during the last grass-court season, this week at the Australian Open in Melbourne he complained of being burdened with unreasonable expectations.

A first-round exit to Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina riled Murray on more than one level. Not only was he tormented by the manner of his performance, of which he was strongly critical, but Murray was also apparently wound up by the level of interest in his match.

Although Chela, who won in straight sets, is ranked 11 places higher than world number 62 Murray, the Dunblane-raised teenager felt under pressure to reach the second round.

At Wimbledon last year, Murray was a revelation and appeared to enjoy every aspect of his three matches.

But there will be higher hopes of him this year, and by June he could quite plausibly have climbed above Henman and Greg Rusedski to be British number one.

Wherever he plays, Murray will be in the spotlight, and by tapping into Henman's experience, he hopes to learn how best to deal with the attention.

''The only person I've spoken to about it is Tim, as somebody who has been through the same thing as I will probably have to go through. Obviously there's other people giving me advice,'' said Murray.

''But at the end of the day you just have to try to stay true to yourself and that's what I'm going to have to try to do, because if not then I will think at the end of my career that I will not achieved everything I wanted to.''

There was further disappointment for Murray yesterday, as he and Novak Djokovic bowed out of the men's doubles to Fabrice Santoro and Nenad Zimonjic, losing 7-6 (7-5) 6-3.

Relative to his singles results, however, doubles play is small fry to Murray.

He was surprised even to be asked to attend a press conference, but following his outburst on Tuesday it was inevitable.

''I wasn't blaming the media for my loss but I was just saying that at times it can be pretty difficult for me,'' said Murray.

''I've just lost in the first round of a doubles tournament and every single person in the media's here to come and speak to me.

''It's not often that you're asked to speak to this many people when you've lost in the first round of a doubles tournament. I think in some ways I have had a good press but it can be quite difficult for me because I'm expected to do so well this year.

''It's good for British tennis that everyone's here but it's maybe not as good for me that there's so many people all having their opinion about my game and trying to find other people's opinions on me.''

Among those sounded out was Murray's doubles partner.

Serbo-Montenegrin Djokovic, also 18, is along with Murray, the French pair of Gael Monfils and Richard Gasquet and the already-there Spaniard Rafael Nadal being touted as a teenager with a massive future in the game.

Djokovic has not experienced the same level of exposure as Murray, and was enchanted at being asked to comment on his game.

''The media are more and more interested and I just hope that it will be much better,'' said Djokovic.

''It's really nice and I'm really also honoured to be in this couple of players, which I can say are rising stars.

''The media are trying to get it as much attention as it can and it's a really good thing, we just have to stay focused on our tennis.''

Murray reacted: ''I think if he had what I've had in the last sort of six months, it might be slightly different. This is a quite difficult position for me to be in.''

Murray will try to learn from his mistakes against Chela, recognising his performance was deeply flawed.

''I think I've actually learned a lot this week,'' he said. ''Probably since I started playing on tour this is the tournament that I've learned the most from because I went out and played the opposite way to how I play well.