Andy Murray vs Philipp Kohlschreiber live: Watch ATP Dubai 2017 tennis on TV, online

World No 1 Murray is in contention to land his maiden ATP crown of calendar year 2017 after a shock exit at Australian Open.

Andy Murray, Australian Open, first round, Ilya Marchenko, Melbourne — Reuters

Tennis World No 1 in men's singles Andy Murray is looking forward to winning his first ATP World Tour crown of the calendar year 2017 and what better to start off his campaign with a win in Dubai. The Australian Open 2017 didn't really turn out to be in his favour, but nevertheless hopes are not lost.

It's been almost an irony. While Murray suffered a shock exit at the hands of Mischa Zverev at the Rod Laver Arena in January and Federer went on to win the Australian Open championship, the Swiss legend, on Wednesday, suffered a shock exit from the ATP Dubai event at the hands of fellow qualifier Evgeny Donskoy.

With the likes of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal taking part in the ATP Acapulco 2017 in Mexico, Murray and Gael Monfils remain the only two big names at the ATP World Tour Dubai.

Nevertheless, Murray cannot underestimate the challenge he will receive from his old foe Philipp Kohlschreiber on Thursday in the quarter-final of the Dubai event.

The German is ranked 29 in the world -- stark contrast to Murray's No 1 ranking. Murray and Kohlschreiber have faced only five times since 2010 and the Briton is already 4-1 up in the head to head record.