TENNIS:After winning back-to-back tournaments and beating Roger Federer in each, Scotland's Andy Murray has been installed as joint-favourite with the Swiss to win the Australian Open. Murray has now beaten the man many regard as the best player ever five times in their seven career meetings and says it's down to a fearless approach.
Federer has expressed surprise at the 21-year-old being rated above world number one Rafael Nadal and defending champion Novak Djokovic in the eyes of the bookmakers, but Murray is comfortable with his odds.
"It doesn't make any difference whether people expect you to win or not. It doesn't change my mentality,” he said. "You get used to being expected to win matches when you play at Wimbledon. The pressure that comes with that gets you used to these situations.
"The older you get, the more matches you play, you realise what the bookies are saying doesn't make any difference once you get on court, whether they are saying good things or bad things. You just get on with your job."
Murray has done that spectacularly so far this year, having won all of his eight matches, including beating Nadal once and Federer twice.
His only defeats to Federer came in their first meeting at Bangkok in 2005 and in the US Open final last year.
"The more you play against him the less fearful you are. You're not scared to win the match. If you're young and you play against the top guys, once you get close to winning you get nervous.
"Now when I play him I don't get nervous and if I play my best tennis I can beat him."
Both players have their own dates with history in Melbourne when the tournament starts on Monday. A win for Federer would take him level with Pete Sampras on 14 grand slam victories.
For Murray, however, there is the little matter of trying to become the first British man to win a grand slam singles title since Fred Perry back in 1936.
Not that he is letting such a burden weigh him down. He reports no problems with the back which stiffened up in Doha last week after eight matches in 11 days, although physiotherapist Andy Ireland has arrived in Melbourne as insurance.
And he is trying to put a philosophical spin on the expectation which is bound to build as the 'Fred Perry' 73-year statistic is wheeled out on a daily basis.
He said: "It has been so long since a British tennis player has won a slam. I'd love to win a grand slam, but it might not happen.
"You have to try to forget about all the history. It is not of benefit if you are going on the court worrying about those sort of things. You have to put them to the back of your mind.
"I do understand what a big deal it would be if someone from Britain did win a slam, but I'm still very young so I'm not putting any added pressure on myself to win this Australian Open.
"I'm going to enjoy being one of the favourites and give it my best. I've got a lot more grand slams to play. I'm really chilled out."