Andy Murray drops out of the world's top four for the first time since 2008

By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Updated: 19:17 EST, 11 January 2010

Drop: Andy Murray

Andy Murray has dropped out of the world's top four for the first time since August 2008.

The British number one was this morning overtaken by Juan Martin Del Potro after choosing not to defend his Qatar Open crown.

Murray, who decided playing in the Hopman Cup with Laura Robson would be better preparation for next week's Australian Open, therefore loses the 250 ranking points he picked up last year.

The 22-year-old will now be seeded fifth for the first grand slam of the year and could therefore meet any of the top four in the quarter-finals.

Murray, though, has yet to get past the fourth round in Melbourne in four previous attempts and is not concerned by his rankings slide.

'I really don't think the seedings make any difference,' he told the Daily Record.

'If you get to the quarter-finals, you're going to have to beat the best players anyway.

'Maybe it's one more than normal but you bank on the top four seeds getting to the last eight. There are always surprises and I need to make sure I get there myself first.'

Murray broke into the top four after reaching the final of the US Open in 2008 and then climbed as high as number two in the world last autumn but was subsequently overtaken by Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and today Del Potro.

Meanwhile, the Scot is reportedly being targeted as a replacement for Roger Federer at this week's Kooyong Classic exhibition.

The world number one pulled out of the event at the weekend and the chances of matches against the likes of US Open champion Del Potro, Djokovic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Fernando Verdasco may be tempting for Murray.