Federer is worthy favourite at 8-15

Roger Federer can reward followers of The Sports Book who took pre-tournament odds of 100-30 about the Swiss ace winning a fifth successive US Open by beating Britain’s Andy Murray in the final of the season’s closing grand slam at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday.

Federer is a best-priced 8-15 heading into the decider and warrants the favourite’s tag arriving on an unbeaten run at the US Open stretching back to 2003, a sequence of 34 matches.

Murray is a general 7-4 chance to make his first appearance in a grand slam final a triumphant one and his supporters will point to the Scot’s winning record against Federer which has seen him emerge victorious in two of their three previous meetings.

All three matches were on hardcourt with Federer winning their first encounter indoors in Bangkok in 2005, while Murray beat the then world No 1 in Cincinnati in 2006 and most recently in March in Dubai.

However, those results carry little relevance in the context of Murray playing his first grand slam final and Federer’s weight of experience can help him emerge the victor.

Federer, 27, whilst enduring a disappointing year by his lofty standards, losing his Australian Open title to Novak Djokovic and his Wimbledon crown to Rafael Nadal, looked back to his best when beating the former in four sets in the semis on Saturday.

The day of rest he enjoyed on Sunday is a further advantage over Murray for whom the physical exertions of overcoming Nadal last night could have left a mark.

Federer is 11-4 with Skybet, William Hill and Bet365 to win by three sets to one and that could prove the outcome.