Back Murray to win Aussie Open before he beats Federer or Tsonga

Brits don’t generally cope with the heat that well, but far from melt in the Melbourne heat Andy Murray has looked cooler than ice in dispatching his first three Australian Open opponents without dropping a set.

Given the way Murray booked his fourth round spot by swatting aside world number 27 Feliciano Lopez 7-6, 6-2, 6-4, the signs are building that the three-time Aussie Open finalist means serious business once more at Melbourne Park.

The price for Murray to finally shake his bridesmaid status at the tournament currently stands at a princely 7/1 with Ladbrokes and ahead of his fourth round tie this is a great time to back the Wimbledon champion.

Next up Murray faces ‘lucky loser’ Stephane Robert, a qualifier who has already had to play six matches to set up this clash and it looks every bit a formality for the world number four.

This theory is backed up by odds of 1/66 on Murray to prevail, while the 2/9 on another straight sets triumph sums up the task ahead without disrespecting his French opponent.

Admittedly, Murray’s path to the final is not without some serious tests though, not least a probable semi-final encounter with reigning US Open champion and world number one Rafael Nadal.

However, Murray did prevail in the pair’s last encounter which came in the final of the 2011 Japan Open on this surface.

Before that potential titanic semi, though, the last eight will see the British number one take on the winner of either Roger Federer or Jo-Wilfried-Tsonga.

The world number six and ten respectively are daunting opponents for most, though Murray has beaten Tsonga seven of the last eight times and Federer three out of the last four – including here last year.

Expect Muzza’s price for overall glory to shrink once he has progressed past either man.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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