Andy Murray says that his ten weeks away from the ATP Tour have actually proven a boon as he offered praise to his American coach Brad Gilbert.

"The break from competition has probably done me some good," the British number one told the Times ahead of his scheduled return to the court in Washington next week.

Murray has been out of action since injuring his wrist at the Hamburg Masters on his 20th birthday in May and has since missed both the French Open and Wimbledon.

But he says the fitness training he has done in the interim since the injury has actually improved his condition more than tournament competition could have.

"You can get match-fit by playing loads of matches, but you are not really getting physically stronger," the 20-year-old said.

"When you get the chance to concentrate specifically on building up fitness, it gives you an advantage on the other players who have not had the opportunity to do it."

Murray was training at Florida's Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy with Gilbert ahead of the Legg Mason Classic in the US capital, where he reached his third-career final last year.

"Some days I find it difficult to get up for the running, but it helps having Brad around to motivate you," the Scottish world number 14 said.

Murray added that the conditioning work he has done over the past two and a half months should prove beneficial on the hot American hardcourts in the lead up to August's US Open.

"I have improved my core fitness over the last ten weeks, which should hold me in good stead over the next month," he said.

"The hard thing about the American tournaments is that the courts get so hot. You can feel it through the soles of your trainers and it makes your legs really burn. That gets you even more than the heat in the air."

Murray acknowledged that his relationship with Gilbert is complicated, but praised the man who gained his fame coaching Americans Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick as a marvellous tactician.

"Brad steers clear of the technical stuff and allows me to express myself with the shots I have developed over the years," Murray said.

"But he is tactically brilliant. He takes the time to scout opponents and watch videos so we can come up with the right strategy for each one. He has made a big difference, which is great because I would not have been able to afford him without the help of the LTA."

"It is important that a player knows his own mind and takes ownership of his programme. I am not the kind of person who will just follow instructions without getting involved."

Murray has been known for verbal outbursts at his mentor after difficult moments on the court, but Gilbert said the tongue-lashings were just Murray's way of dealing with his frustration.

"It's not a personal thing," the former world number four said. "It's more a personal thing to himself that he is not doing better. He's just venting. I would never have done it to my coach and Andre would not have done it to me."

"But that's the thing: everyone is different and you have to handle what comes your way. I don't think it's good if he does it day in, day out. But that's his release a little bit."

As for the Briton's prospects to join the company of some of Gilbert's more illustrious pupils, the American is coy while admitting that Murray has given him a whole lot to work with.

"There is no magic pill, no guarantees, I just try my ass off to get Andy to be as good as he can get," he said.

"But it helps a lot that Andy is someone with bags of talent."

Jeremy Stahl / Eurosport