• US Open

More to come from Murray - Maclagan

ESPN staff
August 25, 2010
Miles Maclagan helped guide Andy Murray to two Grand Slam finals © Getty Images
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Miles Maclagan says Andy Murray has rediscovered his form ahead of the US Open but claims the best is yet to come from the British No. 1.

Murray, who split with Maclagan last month, won his first title in nine months when he defended his Rogers Cup crown in Toronto. And Maclagan, who is still on good terms with his former charge despite the separation, believes Murray stands his best chance of winning his maiden Grand Slam in New York.

"I watched his matches in Toronto and I thought he played well," Maclagan said in the Telegraph. "I think that with that style, he's a real threat for the US Open, and he's moving in the right direction. He's not at his peak yet. He's got a good way to go.

"Physically, he's very good. It will be hard to improve, but I'm sure he'll continue to do so. I think that, once he gets a Slam under his belt, he will be more confident and relaxed about his tennis, and that will push him on even more. So I think there is still a way to go."

Murray is seeded fourth at Flushing Meadows behind world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, five-time champion Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, and Maclagan believes Murray is the third favourite to triumph in New York.

"I think Roger has to be the favourite," he said. "He's playing with belief that he can do it. I'm going to have to stick with Rafa as the second favourite, even though he hasn't always played his best there. He's still Rafa Nadal.

"Andy is probably third, but a closer third than he has ever been before. And if Andy wins the US Open on his own, he might think to himself, 'Why do even I need a coach'?"

With two defeats in two Grand Slam final appearances, Murray's doubters question whether the Scot will ever win a Major, but Maclagan insists he still has plenty of time on his side.

"Do I think he will win a Grand Slam? Yes. He is 23 so he has four or five years left. I think that people sometimes forget that, in the two grand slam finals he's been in, he has played against the greatest player of all time. So that's kind of rough," Maclagan said.

"You look at the opponents that some players have beaten in finals to win Grand Slams, and if Andy had played those guys in his finals, he might have won two Grand Slam titles by now. So maybe he was unlucky, and he can beat all the guys, so he's right there. I think he will win one."

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