Heat and Federer do not worry Murray

Andy Murray accepted the challenge of being installed as joint favourite alongside Roger Federer to win the Australian Open with a message for the man who many believe is the best tennis player of all time: "I don't get nervous when I play you any more."

Murray could not have sounded more ice cool after practising in 37 degree heat in Melbourne. And while Federer has expressed surprise at the 21-year-old Scot being rated above world number one Rafael Nadal and defending champion Novak Djokovic in the eyes of the bookmakers, Murray was entirely comfortable with his odds.

He said: "It doesn't make any difference whether people expect you to win or not. It doesn't change my mentality."

"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.

In fact, he has beaten Federer five times in their seven career meetings, his only defeats coming in their first meeting at Bangkok in 2005 and in the US Open final last year.

Murray said: "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."