Don't dodge Davis Cup, Becker warns Murray

Although the British No 1 moved up to 10th in the rankings by winning in Marseille on Sunday, Becker believes he has to concentrate on peaking for the big events.

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'It's great he is winning in Marseille and Qatar but that's not going to make you the best in the world,' said Becker. 'You aren't going to be the best player if you arrange your schedule around Marseille and miss the Davis Cup.

'He said he was injured for Argentina but if he missed it because he was saving himself for Marseille this attitude is not going to win him a Grand Slam.

'You've got to want to beat someone like David Nalbandian on his own patch. From a mental point of view it is great training, putting yourself under the greatest pressure.

'Playing a Grand Slam with huge crowds and people watching round the world is completely different. That's what he must prepare for.'

Becker, attending Monday's Laureus World Sports Awards, also believes that to win a Grand Slam, Murray needs a top coach.

'I was surprised by his split with Brad Gilbert, who is one of the best in the game. He talks a lot at breakfast and that can get to you, but he has huge knowledge,' said Becker.

Lewis Hamilton flew the flag for Britain as Breakthrough Sportsman Of The Year. And he put the issue of racial abuse in Spain behind him by insisting that he wanted to focus on the season's opening Grand Prix in Melbourne.

He and Bernie Ecclestone greeted each other warmly on stage, suggesting that the driver was not upset by the Formula One ringmaster playing down the abuse issue at the weekend when he dismissed it as a one-off.

Hamilton said: 'I'm moving forward and the first race of the season is all that matters.'

He played down the idea that, as a known quantity, he might find his second season in F1 trickier than his first, by saying: 'I'm feeling more confident and I've a few tricks up my sleeve.

Ecclestone admitted to talks with the St Petersburg authorities about moving a Grand Prix here in the next few years — possibly at the expense of the loss-making Melbourne race.

Britain's premier athlete Paula Radcliffe won the gong for World Comeback Of The Year, beating Londoner Christine Ohurougu, the world 400m champion, to the award.

Tennis players Roger Federer and Justine Henin cleaned up the main individual awards, having won six Grand Slams between them in 2007.

Other winners included the South African rugby XV as World Team Of The Year.