Andy Murray better equipped than at SW19

Published on Wednesday 3 September 2008 09:44

ANDY MURRAY is confident the second grand slam quarter-final of his career at the US Open today will have a far more positive outcome than his appearance in the last eight at Wimbledon.

The British number one and sixth seed got a brilliant morale booster for his quarter-final clash with the in-form No.17 Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina when he swept aside 10th seed Stanislas Wawrinka on Monday night in straight sets.

Murray said he felt he was far better equipped to reach his first grand slam semi-final than earlier this summer at Wimbledon when he was blown away by Spain's Rafael Nadal in the quarters. The Scot, who will move into the world top five for the first time when the rankings are next issued at the end of the US Open, was only on court for 109 minutes as he beat Switzerland's Wawrinka, whereas he went into his Wimbledon date with Nadal on the back of a five-set epic against Richard Gasquet.

"I think once you start to get to the final, that's when it changes a little bit," Murray said. "You've got the potential to sort of make history and go down as a great player. The last slam quarter I played I got killed and Nadal played way too good for me but I feel like I'm playing better now.

"I'm definitely going to be more rested this time round and I'll hopefully play a better match."

Murray, 21, will also have the benefit of feeling totally at home at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre in New York, where he won the Junior Boys' singles' title in 2004 and at what he has repeatedly said was his favourite tournament.

"Regardless of how I am playing before I come to the States, I feel good every time I come on those courts," he added.

"I just really enjoy playing here."