Murray to test level against best

INDIAN WELLS, Mar 9 (Reuters) Britain's Andy Murray will learn whether his improving game is good enough to let him consistently live with the world's best when the men's Pacific Life Open kicks off tomorrow.

The 18-year-old won his first title last month in San Jose by shocking former world number ones Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt.

''I've already shown that my game is pretty good by beating Roddick and Hewitt, but this is a bigger tournament,'' the 44th ranked Murray told reporters today.

''I'd like to win a few matches, but I'm not expected to do great.'' In the first round Murray will face a qualifier and then could play fifth seed Nikolay Davydenko of Russia in the second round.

Former world number one and ex-French Open champion Carlos Moya is in the Scot's quarter, as is 10th seed David Ferrer of Spain and fourth seed David Nalbandian of Argentina.

With all the men's top players in attendance, Murray isn't expected to pull off another shock to win the tournament.

BEST TENNIS After winning San Jose, Murray reached the quarter-finals of Memphis, but then fell in the first round of San Jose.

''I don't expect my best tennis to come now, but when I'm 21 or 22,'' Murray said.

''I'm happy with where my game is right now and am only focusing on improving.'' World number one Roger Federer, who had his 56-match winning streak on hard courts snapped by Spain's Rafael Nadal in the Dubai final last week, is the tournament's stop seed.

French teen sensations Richard Gasquet and Gael Monfils are in the Swiss player's quarter, along with number six Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia.

The 19-year-old Nadal is seeded second and will make his debut at the tournament.

The Spaniard's half of the draw includes Hewitt, Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus, and Americans Andre Agassi, Roddick and James Blake.

Britain's Tim Henman, a former finalist here, is unseeded and will take on American wild card Donald Young in the first round.

REUTERS PDS PM0918