Andy Murray has revealed that he was handed a timely confidence boost ahead of his Australian Open second-round clash against Sam Groth earlier today.

Twenty-eight-year-old Groth had never previously played on the Rod Laver Arena and he confessed as much before the two players headed out of the locker room.

"I was standing right next to him in the locker room and he said to someone, 'This is my first time on Rod Laver. I've never even hit on here before.' I was like, 'Great, that's good for me,' world number two Murray told reporters.

"Was I surprised he said it? A little bit. We were literally sitting a metre or so away."

Murray went on to win the encounter in straight sets, taking just one hour and 33 minutes to do so.