Andy Murray –Favourite for Aussie Tennis Grand Slam

One, or perhaps even two, eyebrows may have been raised by the shrewder members of the tennis betting fraternity at the positioning of Andy Murray as favourite to win next week’s Australian Open, the first of the Grand slams in the tennis calendar. Roger Federer expressed surprise when he heard but then, isn’t this no more than a churlish remark to be expected from a vulnerable champion whose reign might soon be over? I’m not so sure. There is no doubt that Andy Murray has moved into a challenging position when it comes to the year’s forthcoming Grand Slams. He has demonstrated focus, indomitable will and a huge strengthening of skill over the last year. His wins in Abu Dhabi and Qatar have bolstered his confidence and set him up perfectly for his first Grand Slam of 2009.

But let’s not forget that this is a Grand Slam. Complex and fast-moving ball games such as tennis are all about focus and there’s nothing like a top title to maximise the determination of top players to put themselves into the winning zone in their minds. Murray has won master’s titles in the past while Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were mopping up all the Slam titles. Now it’s his turn to enter this particular cauldron of tennis at its most demanding and show us he can do the same.

There’’s one thing that’’s clear. Andy Murray has banished all vestiges of fear of his nearest rivals and has completed the task of convincing himself that he can beat them in the toughest of trials. He has provided the perfect catalyst for the betting fan who feeds off the gladiatorial battles that come by every few years in tennis. 2009 promises to yield four fantastic Grand Slam titles, each of which will be fought to the very last breath by three of the best players tennis has ever known.