• US Open

I need to be mentally tougher - Murray

ESPN staff
September 12, 2011
Andy Murray admits he needs to get mentally stronger © Getty Images
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Andy Murray believes he needs to learn to channel his anger better if he is to realise his dream of winning a grand slam title.

For a third consecutive grand slam, Murray's hopes were dashed in the semi-finals by world No. 2 Rafael Nadal, as he fell in four sets to the defending champion.

As the match slipped from his grasp, Murray began to berate himself and slam his racket against his foot. While the Scot insists he cannot change his on-court demeanour for fears he will be accused of not caring, he believes learning to channel his frustration could raise his game by "one or two per cent".

"I'm not having a go at the guys, I'm having a go at myself because I get frustrated," Murray said in The Sun. "It is something I have done since I was young although it is something I need to improve on. That's not the reason I lost but it is something that could give me an extra one or two per cent.

"There is one or two per cent in my game and one or two per cent in my head and my focus. Everyone is different on the court and I know if I had gone out and said nothing and lost, the questions would have been 'You were not yourself on court and you seemed flat.'

"That's what is frustrating because I need to find the right balance. I have found a decent balance recently but it still needs to get better."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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