ANDY Murray does not believe slipping to number five in the world will hamper his chances of grand slam success at the Australian Open.

The Scot slipped below Robin Soderling this week following the Swede’s tournament success in Brisbane, although the significance was reduced when the pair were placed in the same quarter of the draw.

Murray is a strong believer that to win a major you have to beat the best irrespective of seeding.

He said: ‘‘To be honest I don’t really care (about being seeded five).

‘‘Last year I was seeded five here and made it to the final.

But I have been number four and lost in the third round of slams.

‘‘I don’t think it really makes a whole lot of difference where you are seeded.

‘‘You have to play one of the top guys maybe a round earlier but all the players are incredibly difficult to beat.

‘‘It wasn’t something that I was worried about or thinking about when the draw was getting done.’’ Murray opens his challenge against Karol Beck tomorrow, with Soderling a scheduled last-eight opponent.

World number one Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer would then be likely opponents in the semis and final.

The 23-year-old from Dunblane knocked Nadal out in the quarters last year.

The Spaniard retired when two sets and 3-0 down, but in the final Murray suffered a convincing defeat by Federer.

Murray admits he has suffered plenty of highs and lows in Melbourne where he has twice gone out in the first round but also played some of the finest tennis of his career.

‘‘I have very good memories from here but I have some bad ones as well,’’ he added.

‘‘I’ve had a couple of very tough losses but obviously last year I played some of the best tennis of my life throughout the tournament.

I always enjoy playing here.”

When asked to name his favourites for the seasonopening major Murray leaned towards the big two of Nadal and Federer.

‘‘I think Roger and Rafa are the two guys that have played the best tennis in the slams the last few years,’’ he said.

‘‘But I think there are a lot of guys that can win against them if they play their best.”

Much has been made of Nadal’s bid to become the first man to hold all four major titles at one time since Australia’s Rod Laver in 1969 following his successes at the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open last year.

There is a debate as to whether a Nadal win in Australia would constitute a Grand Slam – a term normally given to four major wins in one calendar year – or simply a ‘Rafa Slam’ as it has been dubbed.

Murray said: ‘‘Because of the depth in the men’s game and because you have to win seven matches against different players on different days I think if you hold all four grand slams it is one of the best achievements in sport.

And I really hope he doesn’t do it!’’