• US Open, Day 13

What They Said

Andy Murray cut a frustrated figure against Rafael Nadal © PA Photos

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• Gallery: US Open: Day 13

Andy Murray felt he paid the price for making a slow start in his four-set defeat to Rafael Nadal. He said: "I am disappointed with the first two sets. The third and fourth were better. I know the tactics to play against him but I did not do them in the first couple of sets. Maybe it was because I did not want to play long rallies after the long game yesterday, but that is the only way to play against him. You need to get into the rallies against him as if you play one-two tennis he will beat you.

"There are many things I could have done better tonight, but I didn't. The toughest thing is that he is probably the greatest player that has played tennis. It is easy from the side to say how to play against him, he has faced many different styles and when I have had my best success against him is to play solid from the baseline, hit it high to his backhand and wait for the right ball to come in on. He has a great serve, it gets a lot of spin. It is hard to step in. I tend to do better when I stay back on his serve.

"It has been a good tournament. I have just got to improve as it is disappointing. I have got close this year. I need to keep working on my game and get physically stronger."

Rafael Nadal had to dig deep to beat Andy Murray and felt fending off his challenge in the fourth set was key. He said "The beginning of the fourth was important as Andy had a tougher match than me yesterday. I saved a break point at the start of the fourth and then started to play a bit more aggressive."

Commenting on this year's final with Novak Djokovic, he said: "This year I am not having a lot of luck against him. I have played five finals against him and lost them all. Maybe New York can help me. I will try my best. I played well in the final here last year. I will try and be aggressive and be solid on my serve."

Novak Djokovic produced a stirring fightback to beat Roger Federer in a five-set epic and rated the win as one of the greatest of his career. He said: "It was definitely the biggest win of this year. Under the circumstances, probably the biggest of my career. Roger was two sets up, in control, and then I switched gear and won the next three sets."

Commenting on the stunning return that saved match point, he said: "It was a risk. If it goes in it goes in. I was hitting a forehand as hard as I can and I was gambling. If it goes out you have lost, if it goes in you have a chance. I was lucky today. This is the biggest stadium we have in our sport. This grand slam is special because of the crowd. It is great.

"I had to take my chances. I was very close to being on my way back home. He was serving. He was 40-15 up. Yeah, I mean, I managed to hit that amazing forehand return which got me back. I got a little bit of energy from the crowd, and I fighted back. I needed to stay positive, and I definitely didn't want French Open to happen again. It was incredible last two games."

Roger Federer passed up two match points to lose to Djokovic and felt he should be in the final. He said: "It's awkward having to explain this loss because I feel like I should be doing the other press conference. But it's what it is. It's the obvious, really. He came back; he played well. I didn't play so well at the very end. Sure, it's disappointing, but I have only myself to blame, you know. It's strange how it goes, you know, but it was a good tournament for me. Sure, I'd love to be in the finals and give myself a chance to win the title, which is not the case now. So I have to accept that and move on."

Britain's Oliver Golding booked his place in the Boys' singles final with a win over fellow Brit George Morgan. He said: " It feels unbelievable. I came into the week confident and it is just great. It made it harder [playing a fellow Brit]. George is great player and we have had some big matches when we were younger. It made it tougher. The future is bright. We have a lot of good players, there is a good group pushing each other along. To win a grand slam, even a junior one is phenomenal, so I will give it my best shot tomorrow."

There is one sour note for Golding who added: "My mum unfortunately had to do jury service this week. She was going to come out so that is pretty bad luck."

Serena Williams was emotional after booking her place in the final by beating Caroline Wozniacki: "I really wanted to get here and get to the final, with everything that New York and Americans have been through. It's hard to believe it's been 10 years. I have come full circle. Hopefully I can do better 10 years later.

"I really feel like I don't have anything to lose. I have beaten all the odds. Six months ago I was in the hospital and now I'm in the final. So I feel like, regardless of the result, I have been a champion for everyone out there who is fighting against all odds and staying positive."

Wozniacki said: "I was definitely trying. I never gave up. I was always trying just to play the next point. But Serena played very, very well. She's in great shape, serving well, returning well, playing her hard strokes. Especially that serve was just a killer. It's definitely not fun to be returning those first serves."

Sam Stosur progressed to the final with a three-set win over Angelique Kerber and she admitted it was a tough test. She said: "Playing a semi-final is always difficult compared to any other matches so to get through in pleasing It was great playing out there, it was a great crowd, they were vocal and we had a lot of support."

Commenting on being in a final before, Stosur said: "I think it can really help. It is daunting playing your first final. There will be nerves but I have been through it before and I will have a go and hopefully have a good day."

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