Murray can make his presence felt

SPORTS BETTING: AS sportsmen go, they simply don’t come any tougher than Novak Djokovic.

There have been many great tennis champions down the years, but I can’t think of one with quite so much resilience, determination and sheer will to win.

Given he is as talented as any of the world’s top players it’s no surprise Djokovic is a hot favourite to win the first Grand Slam tournament of 2015 – the Australian Open in Melbourne, from Monday.

When you consider Djokovic won this title in 2011, 2012 and 2013, his odds of 11-10 are fair enough.

But loss of form or injury/illness could come into play over two weeks of action, and we can’t rule out a burst of searing form from one of his rivals.

Stanislas Wawrinka performed such a feat last year, beating Djokovic in the quarter-finals before winning the whole tournament.

If Djokovic is to be denied this year, who will step up to take the plate?

Roger Federer has been in top form over the past 12 months; 6-1 for him to win is fair. That said, I feel his days of hislanding Grand Slams are gone. Fellow Swiss Wawrinka is searching for his best form and is 16-1 for that reason.

So with Rafael Nadal (10-1) involved in a constant battle with injury, it may be worth showing a touch of patriotism and backing Andy Murray at 7-1.

Murray had a poor first half of last year due to injury, but performed heroics to qualify for the World Tour finals in London only to find he had run his race as fatigue set in.

He is in a much better place at the start of 2015 and at 27, still young enough to feature.

The draw is not until Friday, so Murray’s odds could go either way depending on how he fares.

But with doubts over almost all Djokovic’s main rivals, Murray has a fair shot.

RECOMMENDATION: Andy Murray to win Australian Open, 7-1 (general).