NOTEBOOK: Murray gaining momentum with British bookies

Sep 7, 2009, 15:26 GMT

New York - British bookmakers fancy the chances of home hero Andy Murray after the Scot swept into the fourth round of the US Open over American Taylor Dent with ease.

Last year's losing finalist Murray stands an overwhelming 1/14 to overcome Croatian Marin Cilic in the fourth round, according to Ladbrokes of London. In addition, Murray is now 3/1 to lift the trophy next Sunday.

But Murray's not the only game on offer, with five-time champion Roger Federer 4/5 to retain his crown for a sixth straight year and injury-plagued Rafa Nadal is 7/1 to overcome the odds and win the only major missing from his collection.

'Murray has looked impressive, but he still faces the problem of an in-form Federer,' said a spokesman.

In women's play, punters are piling on for comeback queen Kim Clijsters, now an impressive 3/1 to take the women's title after dumping out Venus Williams as she returned to tennis after becoming a mother and missing more than two years of competition.

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NOTEBOOK: Locker room holds no secrets on Nadal abs injury =

New York (dpa) - Andy Murray has expressed only polite surprise at the sight of Rafael Nadal stretched out on his back during mid-match at the US Open getting treatment for an abdominal strain.

The public may have found out for the first time at the weekend what else is plaguing the former No 1 who missed two months of summer play to rest his weary knees.

But players have known for weeks after the Spaniard's second setback.

'I knew he had that problem since Montreal (a month ago), he's had the tape on his abs,' said second seed Murray. 'Being in the locker room, we obviously can see that.'

But the Scot is not about to make any medical forecasts, leaving that to the experts. 'You never now how bad it is.

'To me, after he had the treatment, from what I saw, didn't look like it affected him that much. Maybe lost one more game after that,' he said after Nadal beat Nicolas Almagro in the third round after being seen on court by the trainer.

'Things can get better in a couple of days, or sometimes they get worse. You just have to focus on your own matches not what's going on in the other players.'