Nadal accepts defeat, applauds Murray

Sep 8, 2008 - 1:26 AM By Simon Lewis PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- World No. 1 Rafael Nadal said he had no excuses for his shocking defeat to Andy Murray in the U.S. Open semifinals on Sunday, despite his marathon season catching up with him in New York.

Nadal, who overtook Roger Federer as the world No. 1 last month and won the French Open, Wimbledon and Olympic titles, never recovered from going two sets to love down to the British star on Saturday before heavy rain halted play.

When the players returned on Sunday, the Spaniard took the third set and had a chance to level the match after going a break and 30-0 up on Murray's serve at 3-1 before the Scot rallied to take the match 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4.

Nadal was gracious in defeat and said if anything, the overnight rain delay had been more beneficial to him than the sixth seed.

"Well, for me it was a little bit lucky," Nadal said of the rain delay. "(On Saturday) I was not playing, so today I played a little bit more. So I just have to accept that. Today was a different match. I played with a little bit more energy. It was later (in the day).

"Before I don't know where was the energy. But he played well. I had my chance in the fourth. I didn't convert. He beat me. I just want to congratulate him."

Asked why he had been so flat during the part of the match played on Saturday, Nadal did admit fatigue had played a part after a long campaign and it had only been a matter of time before it caught up with him during a tournament.

"Probably more than 84 matches, it's difficult every day to be fresh, so I know one day something like yesterday is going to happen," he said. "Well, wasn't the best moment because it was a semifinals of the U.S. Open, but at the same time, never is a good moment.

"It is always is a bad moment, but I'm very happy for everything. I tried my best during all the tournament. I wasn't very fresh during all the tournament. I made the semifinals, so I'm very happy for that. Today I tried my best to try to come back into the match. It wasn't 100 percent, but I did well, so I'm happy for everything."

Nadal said he thought No.2 Federer would be favorite to beat Murray in Monday's final, but the Scot was more than capable of landing his first Grand Slam title.

"Andy has his chances," Nadal said. "I think Federer's going to be the favorite, that's for sure. But Andy is doing very well. He's having very good second part of the season, Toronto, Cincinnati, right now here in the finals.

"So he's very, very good player. He can do it."