Online Bookmaker Reduces Murray's BBC Crown Chances

Sports betting firms offer revised odds on tennis star Andy Murray taking the BBC award.

Andy Murray's shock fourth-round defeat to Marin Cilic in the US Open has seen an online bookmaker lengthen the odds on him winning the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year.

William Hill has dropped the British number one's chances of prevailing at the end-of-year ceremony to 16/1, following his 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 loss at Flushing Meadows against the Croatian 16th seed.

The gold-winning heptathlete Jessica Ennis and the current leader of the F1 world championship Jenson Button are currently joint favourites with odds at 13/8.

However, those willing to have another punt on Murray becoming the first male British player to win a Grand Slam since Fred Perry in 1936 could take advantage of new odds being offered by William Hill.

Despite Murray's disappointing failure at the US Open, the online bookmaker has the 22-year-old Scot down as 4/6 on to win a major in 2010.

Rupert Adams, spokesman for William Hill, said: "We are convinced that Murray is the real deal and expect him to come up trumps next year."

Murray is currently listed at 25/1 to win the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year award by Bet365.