Andre Agassi: 'Andy Murray can win Australian Open'

Tennis legend Andre Agassi has backed Andy Murray to win the Australian Open.

The American says that the 25-year-old's triumph at the US Open last year will help him in Melbourne.

"This is Murray's year to really break through," Agassi told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"I think he's slowly come to understand what he needs to do. He has so many defensive skills that he does run the risk of being passive.

"He had to step up and take it [in the US Open final against Novak Djokovic]. He couldn't just wait. He had to step up in that fifth set to the biggest situation against the biggest player on the biggest stage – and he did."

Murray will take on Robin Haase in the first round on Tuesday.