Andy Murray has played up the importance of qualifying for the end-of-season ATP World Tour Finals next month.

The 27-year-old boosted his chances of reaching the event thanks to last week's Vienna Open triumph, currently holding on to the eighth and final spot in the Race to London.

Ahead of the season's penultimate tournament in Valencia, Murray admitted that it is vital to to remain among the world's elite.

"A lot of it is to do with seedings for the beginning of next year," he is quoted as saying by the Evening Times. "If you look at the Australian Open, which is the second event we play next year, if you're seeded outside the top eight you can draw one of the top players before the quarter-finals.

"So if you can get into that top-eight bracket, it helps. But for me this year it would be great to get in. You're guaranteed three more matches against the best players in the world, which is what I feel I need right now."

Murray takes on Austria's Jurgen Melzer in round one of the Valencia Open this afternoon.