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[MurraysWorld]

Roger Federer is "surprised" that Andy Murray has been tagged as favourite to win the Australian Open by some bookmakers

He's playing well, finished strongly last year, but I'm surprised that the bookies say that.

He's never won a slam. Winning a slam is a different animal.

Andy's shown for a year that he's knocking on the door. He's a good all-round player, has good tactics and he's full of confidence.

But not many guys have been able to win Grand Slams over the last few years. Rafa [Nadal] and I have taken a lot of them. It doesn't happen that easily, but he has a chance like many other players.

Fox Sports News (1 video)

Kooyong 09: News report on the eve of Kooyong 2009.

The Australian Open gets underway on January 19.

[KitKat]

He's a   and it does always seem to be Andy he's making his comments about, but that's because Andy owns him.  

[psychology student]

...................Is it me or does anyone else notice that Federers golden halo of niceness seems to be slipping. I was shoked at his end of match attitude with murray (very limp handshake - no real eye contact) and the umpire. He did not even shake the umpires hand, storming off the court like a spoilt child he just about remembered to acknowledge his loyal fans in the stadium!!  He also has a way of being very retissent and cool in interviews and does not often give the other player who has just beaten him the credit they deserve, rather blaming his loss on his own poor performance and errors. How arrogant and conceited he appears to be now. Perhaps being world number two and possibly world number three soon will bring back his humility and humbleness. In my opinion he has had it his own way for far too long. Its not his fault, we as tennis fans and reporters have created this monster!! Expecting him to win all the time, When he looses, we are quick to speak of his demise. And this bothers him and perhaps eats away at his own self confidence and self belief that he can still challenge for tennis's riches!! And this obvious doubt manifests itself in his performances both on and off the court!!

[psychology student]

Totally agree with what you said!! His petulant side is now being aired more and more these days. Ones trueself cannot be hidden or masked for long. Eventually it leaks out. Federer is really just doing what comes naturally. In the words of "murraymaniac" - and i quote "the good news is that the truth is finally coming out" - end quote. I feel a little sorry for him, he perhaps has not grasped the concept that nothing in life is forever!! the quicker he accepts this the easier it will be for him to move on and retire gracefully.Hail the new murray - Nadal era?

[Elly]

As far as I'm concerned Federer is just making himself look and sound ridiculous with his behaviour towards Andy.  

Andy may not win Aus Open, but he's certainly earned the right to a little more respect from Federer, given the amount of times he's beaten him now.  Speaks volumes about him as far as I'm concerned - and I used to like him - but not now.  

[Mark]

Now I really want Muzzah to crush him - no quarter given.

Yeah, me too. I'm now even more excited about the tournament.

[Jameselapren]

Federer is a 13(?) time Grand Slam winner, and dominated tennis almost completely for 5-6 years.

Im afraid from his perspective he owes Murray little respect. However, it must be painful for him that Murray has owned him on the tennis court more often than not.

He's holding onto the last shred of evidence that he is still superior to Murray (in the Slams). However I think these comments are bourne out of the frustration of his own decline rather than Murray's emergence - so we shouldn't take them too personally.

Having said that, I hope Murray gets Fed in the semis - and dishes out a bit of a humbling.

[Clydey]

Don't disagree with him, but I feel he gives the most backhanded of compliments sometimes.

That's how I feel, too.