The saltires fly proudly every time Andy Murray takes to the court in Melbourne.

But with the tournament played so far from Scotland - who actually makes up the Murray fan club?

Expats? Travellers? Or tennis loving Aussies with an affection for moody foul-mouthed Scottish sport stars? All of the above it seems.

With his heavily pregnant wife Kim at home in the UK, his supporters have never been more important than ever Down Under.

Lauren Witherspoon tracked down the Murray diehards desperate for him to make the final and go all the way at the fifth time of asking for STV Sport.

First up - it's pensioners and best friends Mary Agnes from Linwood, and Linda from Dundee.

The expat grandmothers turned up at the tournament with a knitted baby shawl and home-made tablet for the Murray clan.

The pair might have lived in Australia for more than 30 years but their accents are unmistakably Scottish and they have become hits with the media over here in Melbourne.

The duo watched Murray's quarter-final win over David Ferrer in the beer garden having failed to secure tickets for the arena. But that, and the mid-match Melbourne thunder storm, didn't dampen their spirits.

"As soon as Andy came on the scene we've been here! I used to watch tennis but I'd never come to the Australian Open if it wasn't for Andy," said Linda.

"I'd love to see him winning it! He's completely changed this year. He seems more relaxed - I just hope his wife doesn't have the bairn - or he'll not even get a shot at it.

Mary Agnes is backing the 28-year-old for this year's title, adding: "It's got to be this year because all these younger ones, especially the Aussies, are coming up."

Another expat is Alex Ross from the kingdom of Fife. The 52-year-old lives in Australia now but is quite happy to admit he's actually from Cowdenbeath. Now residing in Adelaide he makes the "wee trip" over to Melbourne to see Mr Murray in action.

"I've been coming most years. I think he's brilliant - he's misunderstood by some people. He's shy but he's a tennis player - he's not Billy Connolly!

"The Ferrer game was hard. He should get to the final - but you never know."

When most gap year students are partying at the beach, 18-year-old Malcolm Duck from East Lothian, is cheering on his idol at the Rod Laver Arena.

"I'm staying with family in Melbourne and they very kindly brought me to the Open.

"I didn't think I'd get to see Andy. It's my first time at the tennis. He's a great player - you can't deny it. It's been nice to see him develop so much. He's very passionate, which can maybe make him seem a bit annoying - but he's a nice guy all round."

When your relatives live in Melbourne then you may as well coincide holidays with a trip to the tennis. Diana and John McDonald's son must wonder if they are visiting him or Andy Murray every year.

The tennis-mad Lanarkshire couple have organised their trip Down Under in January twice. Former coach Diana thinks Andy's chances of winning this year are looking good as long as the Scot keeps his head in the game.

"We make our holidays at this time of the year so we can come and see Andy - it works really well," said Diana.

"If he keeps his head, keeps calm and focuses - he can do it!"

John added: "His game his getting to his peak and he should make a great finalist. As Scots we tend to be the underdog but Andy Murray is proving the opposite now. He's not moany - he's just Scottish."

So you've got to be Scottish to like Andy Murray? Wrong!

Perhaps the most famous, and loudest, of the Murray fan club - is the Andy Boys. And there's not one Scot between them.

Made up of three Aussies and an Englishman (there's a joke in there somewhere), the 1D of the tennis world disprove the common myth that Murray is an unlikeable character.

Londoner Chris said: "We love the way he plays and his attitude on court. Him and his team have always been very good to us."

"We try and put a few different tunes together every year," added Sam.

"The last couple years we've been up against Kyrgios, Tomic, and Groff supporters but Andy will always be our man!"