• US Open

Weary Murray seeks answers after defeat

Andy Murray admits he is at a loss as to why he crashed out of the US Open at the third round stage.

Murray was a set and a break up against Stanislas Wawrinka, but was not at his best as he fell 6-7(3) 7-6(4) 6-3 6-3. The British No. 1 is regarded as one of the fittest players on the men's Tour, but he admitted he struggled physically.

"Whether it was fatigue or not I don't know," Murray said. "I haven't been really tired in any long matches for a long, long time. In the third and fourth sets I was struggling physically and I got frustrated with that. I haven't been in that position for a very long time.

"I felt like my chance of doing well here was slipping away. I've worked very hard to give myself a chance of winning tournaments. When I was struggling physically, I got disappointed.

"I still feel like I'm super fit, I just didn't feel great. There were a lot of things that I was feeling on the court. I just haven't felt that way for a few years now. I'm going to have to go look at why that was the case and try and get better.

"It's frustrating, regardless whether you're playing well or not, to lose in a Slam. I would have liked to have done better here, but I didn't. I look forward to getting home, resting and thinking about what I'm going to need to do to improve. But this summer overall, I played some great tennis again. I'm just disappointed I didn't play my greatest tennis here."

Murray's victory at the Rogers Cup in Toronto suggested the Scot had returned to form just in time for the final Grand Slam of the year, and he was regarded as one of the favourites to challenge for the title. But his first defeat in over two years to world No. 27 Wawrinka means his quest for his first Major title will continue into 2011.

"I'm very disappointed, obviously," Murray said. "But I think I've been more disappointed. In other Grand Slams, when you get closer to winning the tournament, I think it becomes a lot harder to take.

"He played better than me. There's not a whole lot more to it. He had a chance to win the first set and he didn't take it. I had a chance to win the second set and I didn't take it. I just struggled from then on."

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