Murray eyes bigger picture at U.S. Open

Sep 8, 2008 - 12:37 AM By Simon Lewis PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Andy Murray was still focusing on the bigger prize of a U.S. Open title despite his stunning semifinal victory over world No. 1 Rafael Nadal on Sunday night.

Murray will face four-time defending champion and second-seeded Roger Federer on Monday in the men's singles final.

The sixth-seeded Murray became the first Briton since Greg Rusedski in 1997 to reach a Grand Slam decider, after upsetting top-seed Nadal 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4 in a match started on Saturday but interrupted by heavy rains from Tropical Storm Hanna.

"I'm obviously delighted to be in my first Slam final," Murray said. "But like I said at the start of this tournament, I want to try and win it."

Murray had opened up a two-sets-to-love lead at Louis Armstrong Stadium on Saturday at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre, but was trailing the third set a break down at 3-2 when play was suspended after two hours and one minute.

When the players returned on Sunday, their contest had been switched to the main show court Arthur Ashe Stadium as the sunshine and heat returned to the Big Apple.

Murray was unable to break back in the third set and at a break down at 3-2 (and love-30) in the fourth set, Nadal looked a safe bet to force the match into a deciding fifth set.

Yet the Scot dug deep to turn the match back in his favor, breaking back and winning the match on the Spaniard's serve just 89 minutes after the resumption.

"After playing so well (Saturday), and everything that went on with the rain and the court changes and stuff, obviously going a break behind in the fourth; it was almost slipping away slightly," Murray said. "Then to come back in the end, you're relieved that you managed to come through.

"So, I'm obviously delighted that I won the match. I mean, against a guy who has played as well as him. He's the best player in the world this year because he's played great tennis."

Murray, 21, said he had been comfortable with his situation when play was suspended on Saturday, despite being that break behind to Nadal in the third set

"I would have much preferred to be in my position even though the momentum was kind of with him a little bit in the third set and he held serve easy the first couple of games," Murray said.

"I just had to try and stay aggressive and stay focused."

The Scot added there had been no overnight nerves keeping him awake as he waited for the resumption of play on Sunday.

"I slept absolutely fine. I didn't feel nervous and going out into the match I was in a good position," he said. "It was tough. There were a lot of things I had to deal with - change of court was just tough, a very different atmosphere today.

"It was quite windy out there as well. Obviously (Saturday) the conditions were pretty heavy, very humid. Today it was very windy on the court. The ball was flying through the air a bit more. I just had to try and stay calm. I thought I was playing well enough to win the match."

Murray now looks forward to meeting Federer in Monday night's final and is bidding to be the first British man to win a Grand Slam title since Fred Perry won the U.S. Open in 1936.

Federer beat Novak Djokovic in four sets on Saturday, completing his victory before the rain descended on New York and giving the Swiss star an extra day's rest to Murray, not that the Scot was ready to use that as a pre-emptive excuse.

"Ideally I think you'd want to be in his 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 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 tomorrow."