Despite losing in straight sets after being up by two breaks in the second, Andy Murray feels playing a match against someone like Roger Federer before the US Open is good for his game.
Murray lost the first set of his quarter-final match of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, but responded by claiming a double break in the second. However, Federer fired back and won six of the final seven games to seal an impressive 6-3, 7-5 victory and even up their head-to-head record at 11 wins apiece.
Murray was left to rue a missed opportunity, but said there were some positives he can focus on.
“It was good to play against someone of Roger’s quality before the US Open, because hopefully you’ll be playing against guys like that in the latter stages of the tournament if you play well,” said Murray.
“It’s good to test yourself and see if there are things you need to work on. But there are a lot of things I’ll need to improve.”
The Briton had been hoping to make an impression in Cincinnati with the US Open just around the corner, but it is Federer who looks imperious heading into Flushing Meadows in under two weeks.
Murray was left to ponder what might have been had he taken his numerous opportunities.
He said: “I started the match off pretty slow. Federer came out quick. Then I had a couple break points to get into it in the first set. I didn’t get either of them.
“Then obviously, I was well up in the second and blew it. It’s a shame.
“It was pretty poor tennis from that stage of the match. I don’t remember hitting many very good shots after the 4-1 game. On the 4-3 game I hit two shots about 10 metres out, which is not great.
“I was very, very up and down. It’s been like that most of the year.
“It’s fine to have periods like that when you’re young and new on the tour, but one or two games max, really, when you let your level drop a little bit. Then you need to be able to find it again; I didn’t do that.”
