Andy Murray has revealed he should have taken things easier after overtaking Novak Djokovic to become the world number one in 2016.

The Briton is set to return to action at the Monte-Carlo Masters after an elbow injury ruled him out of the Miami Open in March as he will look to improve on what has been a mixed year so far.

After ending 2016 as the world number one with 24 consecutive wins, Murray began 2017 by seeing his winning streak end in the final of the Qatar Open to Djokovic.

The 29-year-old then entered the Australian Open as the top seed before crashing out in the fourth round in an upset defeat to Mischa Zverev. Murray was able to turn things around in Dubai, winning his first title there after defeating Fernando Verdasco in the final.

However, the Wimbledon champion then suffered a second round defeat against world number 129 Vasek Pospisil, at Indian Wells before having to withdraw from Miami. Murray admits that he probably should have taken things a bit easier after clinching top spot in the rankings following a hectic 2016.

"There's maybe some things I would have done a little bit differently,' he said, as quoted on The Daily Mail. "But it's difficult, I was never in that position that I was in at the end of the year. I had never played that much tennis and didn't know exactly what the right thing to do."

"Maybe if I was in the exact same position next year I would probably do some things differently in terms of the amount of time off I had or where I trained."

Murray also suffered from a case of shingles following the Australian Open and believes that was proof that he was simply exhausted.

"The shingles would explain that, yes," he added. "I think the elbow injury was nothing to do with what happened last year, the shingles would have been more likely something to do with that but I feel fine now."

"I got ill in Miami and had some tests when I got back and everything was completely normal and now I feel great."

Murray will play either Tommy Robredo or Gilles Muller in the second round of the event.