Andy Murray confessed to having the time of his young life in New York over the last fortnight. The young Scot leaves one of his favourite cities considerably richer in his pocket and in the valuable commodity of big-match experience after coming up only a fraction short in his quest to win a first grand slam title. A handsome cheque for US$1million (Dh3.68m) and a career high ranking of fourth in the world will be enormous consolation for Murray, still only 21, after his straight sets defeat by the imperious Roger Federer in the final of the US Open.
"I just want to go relax now for a few days and take my mind off tennis and then I'll analyse what I have done, because a lot of really good things have come out of these couple of weeks," said the beaten but far from disgraced British No 1. "I'm disappointed now. I wish I could have done a few things better and given myself a few more opportunities." Murray believes he was denied an even bigger prize - his nation's first major men's singles honour for 72 years - by the greatest player of all time but pointed out that his best days are still ahead of him.
After a series of frustrating injury problems, the most serious being a damaged wrist in the middle of last year, he has become a lot fitter and stronger over the last few months and has concentrated on learning the psychological aspects of life at the top of the men's game. "I know mentally now that I can get to a slam final, and physically I'm in good shape," he said. "The only thing it comes down to is the tennis. I've got a lot of improving to do if I want to win one of these tournaments."
Federer feels that Murray is a force to be reckoned with at all the big events. "He's done great these last two weeks. We're going to see a lot more of him in the future." wjohnson@thenational.ae
