Tennis, US Open my best chance - Murray

A stunning end to 2008 has given Andy Murray the belief he can soon add a Grand Slam title to his already impressive resume.

Murray has climbed to fourth in the world rankings after winning five tournaments this season, including back-to-back Masters Series victories, as well as reaching the final of the US Open where he lost to Roger Federer.
And the Scot believes the list of impressive scalps he has captured this season is an indication he has the ability to claim one of the sport's four most prestigious prizes. Asked if he felt he was ready to do so, Murray said: "I don't think you ever know until you do it (but) my results would suggest that I am."
He added: "I've played very well the last three or four months, making the final of the US Open. At Wimbledon I played pretty well and in the big tournaments since then. In the Masters series I've obviously performed well.
"I have to make sure I keep getting stronger physically and improve my game so if I do get in a situation where I'm in a Grand Slam final I'm better prepared.
"Realistically, the US Open is my best chance."
Most of Murray's success this year has come since suffering a disappointing quarter-final exit to Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon and the Scot recently saw a 14-match winning streak ended by David Nalbandian in Paris.
Murray underlined his success in the second half of 2008 was mostly down to a punishing fitness regime he decided to undertake at the end of last year.
"I worked very hard on that in December last year," he added.
"I think that's why my results got better as this year went on. I didn't only work on lifting weights, I also worked on my speed as well."

Tennis, Nalbandian halts Murray run

Saturday 1st November 2008:

Andy Murray's winning streak came to an end on Friday when he was beaten in straight sets by in-form defending champion David Nalbandian in the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters.

The Scot ran out of gas after 14 straight victories, which took in tournament successes at the Madrid Masters and the St Petersburg Open, as he was dumped out 7-6 (7/3) 6-3 by the Argentinian, the eighth seed in the French capital.
Murray's bid to become the first player to win three successive Masters Series events fell short but he will be the first to admit he was beaten by the better man.
Nalbandian is a self-confessed lover of indoor tournaments, winning last year's title in stunning fashion, and he always seemed to hold the whip hand in the first set.
He was the first to break, in the fourth game, but Murray responded in the very next game by claiming the first of his two break points when his opponent sent a forehand wide.
Murray, the fourth seed, had to save five break points in his next two service games as Nalbandian piled on the pressure, but he had found some poise by the time the tie-break came around.
Murray quickly slipped 4-1 down, though, and although he saved one set point, Nalbandian was spot on with a forehand winner to take it 7-3.
The British number one was broken in his first service game of the second set when his weak backhand found the net, but he restored parity in the fourth game when he came up with an amazing diagonal winner on the stretch on the second of his break points.
It looked as if he had turned the corner but Nalbandian stepped up a gear, sending Murray all over the court and again breaking at the second time of asking to go 3-2 up.
The two players went on to trade breaks but Nalbandian's third break of the set, in the ninth game, secured him a semi-final date with either Rafael Nadal or Nikolay Davydenko.