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Murray thanks Nadal for fitness boost

Andy Murray is one of the fittest players in the men's game © Getty Images

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Andy Murray believes his improved fitness will give him a fighting chance against world No. 1 Rafael Nadal.

The British No. 1 is a better player than the one who lost to Nadal in straight sets in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon two years ago, and credits that particular defeat as the match that prompted him to up his work rate.

The pair have met four times in Grand Slams, with Murray winning the last two encounters against the Spaniard, but it is the 6-3 6-2 6-4 defeat at the All England Club in 2008 that still plays heavy on his mind.

Two years ago Murray came from behind to beat Richard Gasquet in an exhausting five-setter to reach the quarter-finals in 2008, and the British No. 1 admits that he was not in the best physical condition to meet the French Open champion.

"Ahead of the Nadal match at Wimbledon, I remember being quite tired and my body being quite sore," he said. "I didn't have any chances in the match at all.

"It was a big turning point for me because I realised that, to win a Grand Slam, you have to be fit to play seven five-set matches, not just one big match and then be spent after that."

This year, it is Nadal who has come through two tough five-set matches, while Murray has dropped just one set in his five matches at the All England Club.

Murray is now one of the fittest players on the men's tour, and it was his superior fitness that saw him ease past Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-finals. After two tight sets that went to tie-breakers, Murray pulled away from the Frenchman to book his place in the semi-finals for the second year.

After losing to Nadal at Wimbledon in 2008, Murray went on to reach his first Grand Slam final at the US Open two months later, beating the left-hander in the semi-finals, which marked the Scot's first victory in six meetings against the Spaniard.

"After I lost to him here in 2008, I practised hard, hitting the ball harder and spending more time in the gym. And I managed to beat him for the first time at the US Open in the semi-finals.

"I played him at the Aussie Open this year and it's some of the best tennis I've played. There were some great rallies and great points in that one - unfortunately, he couldn't finish the match because of injury.

"My game is a lot better than it was in 2008 and I'm sure he has improved as well, so it will be a very different match."

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