Australian Open Betting / The Betfair Contrarian / 23 January 2012 /

The Contrarian is aware that this isn't the first time that he's stepped aboard the Andy Murray bandwagon. However, for several reasons that he is eager to explain, he's never before been so confident that the journey will end in glory. Here's why he's urging you to join him in backing the world number four at [7.2]...

Murray is yet to lose this season

The Contrarian can at times be the world's harshest critic, but even he is struggling to pick holes in Andy Murray's form so far in 2012. The Scot has won his first nine matches (ten if you include an exhibition against David Nalbandian) and gave away a set in just three of those, in the early rounds of the two tournaments that he entered while feeling his way in. He is the sole member of the top four - the only players rated serious contenders to go all the way in the winner market - to have claimed a title this season. That success can be seen as a continuation of his strong showings at the end of 2011, winning three of the final four events that he participated in before withdrawing from the ATP World Tour Finals with injury.

This is the Grand Slam where he is most effective

Murray's tendency to start and finish campaigns impressively but dip in the interim, coupled with his fine displays in the last few Australian Opens means that this has to be viewed as the competition in which he is most likely to break his Grand Slam duck. The 24-year-old has been to the final at Melbourne Park in each of the last two years, seeing off the likes of Rafael Nadal en route, and has never before failed to reach the final there after sealing his spot in the quarter-finals.

Everything is going his way

When the draw was announced, it appeared as though Murray had been dealt the toughest hand of all the frontrunners, however his path to the latter stages has been far less difficult than anticipated. The three other seeds in his eighth all bowed out before meeting him, most notably former Grand Slam conqueror Gael Monfils, who had beaten Rafael Nadal earlier in the month. The biggest favour was yet to come though, as his quarter-final collision course with sixth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, his 2008 scourge in Australia, was blocked by Kei Nishikori. The Japanese player lost 3-6 0-6 to Murray in their one previous encounter and should be tired, having been taken to five sets in two of his last three matches and going to four sets in the other. It gives Murray a great chance of making the semis without being severely tested, and if his luck holds out in terms of swerving the fiercest opponents, you can expect a shock semi-final exit for holder Novak Djokovic.

He's getting better all the time

As the matches become progressively more challenging, Murray's margins of victory are increasing. He allowed top-50 player Michael Llodra just six games in the third round, before conceding only two to Monfils' assassin Mikhail Kukushkin in the two sets that were completed, a huge indicator of Murray's improvement as he dropped a set and 12 games against him in Brisbane. The three-time major finalist has rejected the idea that he is already benefitting performance-wise from the recent appointment of eight-time Grand Slam champion Ivan Lendl as his coach, but wasn't as dismissive of suggestions that the Czech's experience of the decisive moments of these tournaments could have a positive impact on his mental preparations.

If you haven't bet on the Open - or any event in Australia and New Zealand - before, there are a few things you need to know. For example, you have to move funds into your 'Australian Wallet' before placing a bet. We've put together a handy guide to how it all works, including short video clips.

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