No worry for Murray

Murray: Ready to make history

This is my favourite tournament and I would love to come back and win here as a senior. My long-term aim is to make the world's top 10.

Andy Murray after his junior US Open win four years ago
Quotes of the week

Also see

• Route to final
• Head to heads
• Betting update
• Brit finalists

Fred Perry was the last Brit to win a men's grand slam singles tournament, clinching the Wimbledon title in 1936.

Since then, the nation has had barely a sniff of success, Greg Rusedski the last to reach the final of a slam, losing to Pat Rafter in the US Open 11 years ago.

Now it is Fred Perry-clad Andy Murray who could be about to end Britain's grand slam drought.

Four years ago Murray spoke of his delight when he won the US Open junior singles title, stating he aimed to use his victory as the start of something special.

"This is my favourite tournament and I would love to come back and win here as a senior. My long-term aim is to make the world's top 10," Murray said.

Four years on and Murray harbours greater hopes than being merely a top 10 player.

After rising up the ranks to number six in the world in 2008, the 21-year-old has come of age at Flushing Meadows and has announced himself on tennis' biggest stage after beating world number one Rafael Nadal in Sunday's semi-final.

Beginnings

But the seeds of success were sown during the junior tournament in 2004.

His successful campaign then began against none other than Juan Martin del Potro who became one of Murray's victims en-route to this year's final.

The two met in the quarter-finals when Murray slugged out a four-set victory over the Argentine, in a match that was profiled as more like a boxing contest than a tennis encounter after bad blood between the two players.

The first round match in 2004 bore no comparison to this year's contest, however, with Murray comprehensively dispatching the then 16 year-old del Potro 6-0 6-1.

After disposing of American Vahid Mirzadeh in the second round, Murray faced another home player by the name of Sam Querrey.

Querrey, who also made it to the second week of this year's US Open before losing to Nadal, entered unseeded for the boys' championship, but the right-hander, currently ranked 55 in the world, posed the greatest test to Murray's march to the title.

Murray, the number three seed, had to show all the resolve which was so apparent against Nadal on Sunday, to turn around the quarter-final clash - eventually coming through 2-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-1.

The result proved significant with top seed Gael Monfils - who was going for a junior grand slam sweep - falling at the last eight stage, leaving Murray with an easier path to the final.

And after the Scot swept past German Mischa Zverev in the semis, 17-year-old Murray sealed his maiden junior slam by beating seventh seed Sergiy Starkhovsky comfortably 6-4 6-2.

Mentality

Among the most impressive aspects of Murray's 2004 introduction to the tennis world was the teenager's composure on and off the court.

This asset, along with his ever-improving physique, has been crucial in escalating Murray to the upper tiers of men's tennis.

Even after recording his greatest victory to date on Sunday, the Scot still remained calm and even had time to meet actor Will Ferrell.

Murray is now rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous, but it is his self-belief which is allowing him to mix it with the best in his sport.

If Murray's victory in New York four years ago introduced a new talent to the tennis world, then the fortnight at Flushing Meadows in 2008 has announced the Dunblane 21-year-old to the masses and has confirmed he can compete with the best in the business.