The first major tennis tournament of the year begins Jan. 14 in Melbourne with the Australian Open, and while most oddsmakers, including WagerWeb.com, list Roger Federer as the overwhelming favorite (and for good reason), there is an emerging young Scot who could emerge as the main challenger to Federer Down Under - and beyond.
Andy Murray, Britain's top player, won the Qatar Open on Sunday, which was his fourth ATP title but first hardcourt title and also first tournament win since splitting with coach Brad Gilbert.
"I had never won a tournament in the first week of the season," said Murray, who lost last year's final to Ivan Ljubicic and split with Gilbert in November. "It is great going into the Australian Open."
Murray had lost both previous meetings to Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka but broke in the first game and went on to take a topsy-turvy opening set on the way to a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 victory.
"Andy played the same type of tennis a year ago but this time he made fewer mistakes," said world No. 4 and Qatar top seed Nikolay Davydenko, who was beaten in straight sets by Murray in the semifinals. "He has good concentration and he is physically strong. He seems to find some special shots when he needs them."
Murray suffered through an injury-plagued 2007, missing nearly four months of the season, including the French Open and Wimbledon. He slipped to 11th in the ATP rankings after reaching as high as No. 8.
The year ended with him splitting from Gilbert, and opting to work with a team of coaches - at his own expense.
The victory in Doha has Murray back into the top 10 (at No. 9) for the first time since Wimbledon 2006, ensuring he will get one of the top 12 seeding positions in Melbourne, enabling him to avoid the world's four best players in the fourth round.
"I was unlucky last year in the Australian draw," said Murray, who will be 21 in May. "I had three straight-sets victories and then came up against Rafael Nadal in the fourth round. At least that can't happen this year until the quarterfinals."
His new coaching set-up certainly passed its first test.
"He is quite confident in terms of his physical ability and one or two of the technical changes he has made," Murray's mother, Judy Murray, said. "He's made changes on his forehand and serve. They make a big difference."Murray also was in much better shape, having worked hard on his fitness at his winter training camp in Florida, while two of his tennis coaches, Miles Maclagan and Louis Cayer, continued to hone his game in Qatar.
"I worked really hard in the offseason, on my fitness and on my tennis," Murray said. "It's the hardest I've ever worked in my life so I'm happy it paid off this week."
Murray will complete his preparations for the Australian Open by joining an elite eight-man field at the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne this week. Federer and world No. 2 Nadal also will be in the event.
Here are WagerWeb.com's top five men's favorites to win the Australian Open:
1. Roger Federer -225
2. Novak Djokovic +500
3. Rafael Nadal +600
4. David Nalbandian +850
5. Andy Murray +1800
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