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BRITAIN'S Andy Murray has been installed as the fourth favourite for the Olympic men's singles tennis gold by leading UK bookmaker Ladbrokes, after his straight-sets victory over Novak Djokovic in the final of the Cincinnati Masters.
Murray is now 9/1 to top the podium in Beijing although the 'big three' of Rafael Nadal (6/4), Roger Federer (2/1) and Djokovic (3/1) are all at shorter prices than the Scot.
Ladbrokes, however, appears convinced that no-one from outside its leading quartet has much chance of winning the Olympic title.
There is a huge gap in its odds list between Murray and 40/1-shot Nikolay Davydenko.
Murray, who beat world No 3 Djokovic, has repeatedly said that hardcourts, which will be used in Beijing, are his favourite surface.
In the women's tournament, Serena Williams heads the betting at 5/1 ahead of Ana Ivanoic at 3/1. Wimbledon champion Venus Williams is a 4/1 chance with Serbia's Jelena Jankovic, set to be world No 1 on Aug 11, at 8/1.
With the sport's biggest names lining up for a shot at gold, the Olympic tennis tournament - considered the fifth Grand Slam this year - provides a welcome shake-up to the usual order of service.
The sense of excitement is refreshing from the highly paid, well-travelled tennis elite, some of whom will carry their nations' flags at the glittering opening ceremony.
'An Olympic gold would be something very special,' said Swiss Roger Federer, who has placed Beijing at the top of his list this year.
But euphoria will soon give way to brutal competition at the Olympic Green Tennis Centre, with the mercury expected to top 30 deg C in muggy and polluted air.
Federer will be the marginal favourite to claim arguably the season's biggest prize, after finishing fourth at Sydney 2000 and flopping out in round two in Athens.
But his worst season since 2004 is ill-timed for the Swiss, with a shock first-round loss in Toronto last month compounding his woes.
AGENCE-FRANCE PRESSE, REUTERS
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