Andy Murray says the US Open represents his best chance of winning a Grand Slam.
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Andy Murray says the US Open represents his best chance of winning a Grand Slam.
The 21-year-old has a good record on the US hardcourt circuit and won his first Masters Series title in Cincinnati last month.
A winning record against four-time US Open champion Roger Federer and two recent victories over Novak Djokovic have boosted the Scot's confidence ahead of the opening day's play at Flushing Meadows.
Murray has not fared well in the past against Rafael Nadal, but the new world number one has never been beyond the quarter-finals in New York.
The British number one opens up his New York campaign against Argentinian Sergio Roitman bidding to improve on his run to the quarter-finals at Wimbledon earlier this year.
Comfortable
He said: "I don't know exactly why it is but I always feel comfortable here.
"I love New York as a city. When I missed Wimbledon last year I realised how much it meant to me. I always want to play great at Wimbledon and do well there but just for my personality, I think the US Open and New York suits me better.
"I just think for me, this is my best surface. I've said it all along, I think I play my best tennis here, I feel most comfortable on the courts, my results have shown that - I've always played well in America. So I think this is my best chance for winning a slam."
Having enjoyed a strong summer and reached sixth in the rankings, a good performance at Flushing Meadows could see him go higher as he does not have many ranking points to defend.
Murray missed three months of last season with a wrist injury and had only just returned to the circuit when he lost in the third round 12 months ago to Hyung-Taik Lee.
If Murray gets by Roitman, who has only one victory away from clay this year, France's Michael Llodra or Teimuraz Gabashvili await in the second round.
He could meet world number 28 Feliciano Lopez in the third round and number 10 Stanislas Wawrinka in the last 16.
Nadal is likely to lie in wait should he make it to the last four, but Murray insists that is a challenge he is ready to meet.
"I don't feel I am far from beating Nadal," he said. "On clay, I'm a very long way off, but on the other courts, I don't think so. Each time I've played him on hardcourts I've never felt I was outclassed.
"This is my best surface and I think once I do get stronger physically I'm sure I'll beat him.
"I don't think you really know whether you are ready or not to reach a Grand Slam final. I'd like to think that I can take the opportunity when it comes."
Following his quarter-final appearance at Wimbledon in July, Murray feels ready to take the next step by reaching a final or taking the title.
Unlike at the All England Club when he came up against Nadal, the eventual champion, in the last eight, his draw in New York is not nearly as difficult.
If he were to advance to the quarter-finals, he would likely meet Spaniard David Ferrer, who beat his countryman in New York last year but is not in Nadal's class.
"I played him (Ferrer) twice. I lost to him on clay and beat him on hardcourts a few years ago very comfortably," Murray said.
"He's a tough player but it's a long way from playing that match. (There's) a lot of tennis to play before then."
Murray's match against Roitman is scheduled as the third match on the Louis Armstrong Stadium, with play due to start at 11am local time (1600 BST).
