US Open - Murray: I'm ready to beat Federer

Eurosport - Tue, 09 Sep 13:05:00 2008

One win away from becoming the first British man to win a Grand Slam title in 72 years, Andy Murray said he will go into tonight's US Open final with no fear, believing he has the game to beat Roger Federer.

TENNIS 2008 US Open Andy Murray - 0

The 21-year-old became only the third British man since Fred Perry won the US Open in 1936 to reach a Grand Slam final when he beat world number one Rafael Nadal 6-2 7-6 4-6 6-4 in a rain-interrupted semi-final.

Four-time defending champion Federer stands in his way but Murray has won two of their three meetings.

"I played well enough to beat the number one player in the world over two days and I've beaten Roger in the past," Murray said.

"I have the tennis to compete with those guys. I just have to make sure I do it for three out of five sets rather than for a set and a half, two sets."

Leading Nadal by two sets but down a break in the third, in a match held over from Saturday because of rain, Murray withstood a fightback from the Spaniard to reach his first Grand Slam final.

Federer, whose semi-final win over Novak Djokovic beat the rain on Saturday, will have had an extra day's rest going into the final, but Murray said he was not concerned by the quick turnaround.

"Ideally, I think you'd want to be in (Federer's) position," Murray admitted.

"I think it's slightly better, but it's a Grand Slam final and I'm not going to let 24 hours of rest or having to play today or whatever get in the way of giving 110 percent.

"I'll try my best to win the match. That's not going to be the difference."

Until he reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon in July, Murray had never been beyond the fourth round at a Grand Slam.

Federer, by contrast, has reached 18 consecutive grand slam semi-finals and will be chasing his 13th major.

"I've played well against him in the past," Murray said. "(But) I think a slam final is different to the match that I played against him before.

"He's got loads of experience in these situations and it's something new for me. I know I'm going to have to play great to have a chance of winning, but I've played well the last couple of weeks."

Should Murray win, it will be the first year that Federer has not won a Grand Slam title since 2002.

The Scot, though, regarded the view that the former world number one was fading as laughable.

"He made the final at Wimbledon, the final of the French Open, the semis of Australian Open, and he's in the final here," he said.

"I don't understand why everyone thinks he's not playing well. He's played unbelievable in the best tournaments and he's in the final for the fifth straight year here.

"It's a ridiculous run. I think he's playing great. I just think the level of tennis has got better."

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Reuters

Comment 184 - 203 of 203

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  1. The headline is misleading when the article is dated after the final!

    From Andrew Broad, on Tue 9 Sep 9:31PM

  2. oh mi God? is this fella on drugs? u are ddddddddddddddddddeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
    swit drimzzzzzzzzzzz buddy

    From odumayowa, on Tue 9 Sep 5:37PM

  3. congratulations

    to reach final

    great wins on the way

    From rafiqueraj@..., on Tue 9 Sep 6:59AM

  4. congratulations

    to reach final

    great wins on the way

    From rafiqueraj@..., on Tue 9 Sep 6:59AM

  5. congratulations

    to reach final

    great wins on the way

    From rafiqueraj@..., on Tue 9 Sep 6:59AM

  6. congratulations

    to reach final

    great wins on the way

    From rafiqueraj@..., on Tue 9 Sep 6:59AM

  7. In your dreams boy.......\

    From lee a, on Tue 9 Sep 6:55AM

  8. gesman44 He DID you pointed out!! I haven't stop laughing!!!!!!!

    From i.silvester, on Tue 9 Sep 1:24AM

  9. Well. As I mentioned it in this article, Murray is big mouthed and until he owes respect to big names he won't win a Grand Slam. Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, Roddick and many other players are big players and you cannot think that simply if you play good you will beat them. They also have their say and they can produce amazing shots that would make Murray loose. Murray showed already his big mouth when he said he was ready to win Wimbledon just to crash before even making the final.

    From Half A Brain, on Tue 9 Sep 1:06AM

  10. Murray: I'm ready to beat Federer !!!??? where on his shoulder maybe!!!!HAHAHAHAHAHA !
    what a joke !!!!!! but at list cashed in 1M for no show!!!!!Should be very proud!!!!
    The worst final ever!!!!!Nadal should have walked away when the organisers pushed the world #1 to play after Federer on backyard that was humiliating !No matter what I would
    never participate at that event he does not need that!!!!!
    The crappiest final EVER!!!! Way to go USTA you made yourself a superstar!!!!
    CONGRATS FOR your imput !!!!

    From i.silvester, on Tue 9 Sep 1:01AM

  11. Apparently Andy is planning to bulid a tennis court in his back garden with '@#$% off england' written on it.

    ________________

    Er...no he's not....muppet!

    From New Baws please, on Mon 8 Sep 11:53PM

  12. dooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooomed

    From skintus, on Mon 8 Sep 10:53PM

  13. This ali.k .....like he were Serbian....meaning Murray won for the first time...and he is the best...you are making me laughing. Imagine, just imagine he wins US open...the Brits will call some mountain Murray mountain ...What about Spain and Swiss?!

    From siskra83, on Mon 8 Sep 9:57PM

  14. Andy Murray is playing brilliant tennis. Win or lose against Federer, he has done Britain proud!
    AA

    From anitaallchin, on Mon 8 Sep 9:50PM

  15. fedex

    From fjer_2020, on Mon 8 Sep 9:43PM

  16. i'm scottish and incredibly proud to be. murray is no different. he's also british and proud. its a friendly rivalry between scots and english. its not bitter like iran/iraq etc. we're not killing each other. its just banter which gets taken too far at times.

    From fergie, on Mon 8 Sep 9:40PM

  17. Murray absaloutly out classed the best player in the world. Id fancy him to go on and win.

    Rule Britannia.

    From ali k, on Mon 8 Sep 9:38PM

  18. murray win it for india!!!india first us champion!!

    From nthk8, on Mon 8 Sep 9:38PM

  19. Roger win the title and show that you're the best of all!!!!! Murray is just an asss....

    From sporty_girl_313, on Mon 8 Sep 9:37PM

  20. post 77 you are a compelete @#$% @#$% you dont have a clue about life do you

    From dazza, on Mon 8 Sep 9:35PM
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