Murray will win a Slam, says Federer

The world No2 used the loss of his beloved Wimbledon crown as motivation at Flushing Meadows to move within one Slam of equalling Pete Sampras's record of 14.

That mark could be hit at the Australian Open in January if Federer can maintain the standard of tennis that saw him overpower the Scot 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 in last night's final.

The Swiss star interrupted his champagne celebrations with his family and friends last night to offer Murray advice about winning a first Slam.

He said: "I don't think Andy needs a whole lot more to be able to win a Slam. I always had the feeling that Andy was an incredible talent.

"It was going to take him just a touch longer than the other guys because he had to figure out some things in his life, and now it's all looking good for him.

"Andy's got three different options, and not many players have that out there. That's what makes him dangerous. He's got the good slice, he can come to the net and he can stay back, even very far back. For this reason you need to adapt a little bit depending on how he plays you.

"He knows now what it takes to get very far into a Grand Slam, and by putting himself in those types of positions, giving himself opportunities, he'll only get better. I always thought he was a big match player.

"But I felt like I was invincible for a while again today, and that's exactly how you sort of want to finish a tournament.

"I always knew that if I were to get one Slam under my belt, especially the last one, things weren't looking that bad like everybody was talking about."

Federer had gone through a poor season by his high standards having missed out to now world No1 Rafael Nadal in the final of Wimbledon and the French Open, while Novak Djokovic claimed the Australian title.

The Swiss master had also been desperate to win Olympic gold in Beijing but was surprisingly beaten by American James Blake in an event which was also won by Spaniard Nadal.

Murray, who beat Nadal for the first time in his career in an epic semi-final, is going to take a short break from tennis and then start preparing for Britain's Davis Cup tie with Austria at Wimbledon, starting on 19 September.

Reflecting on his comprehensive defeat, the 21-year-old said: "I am disappointed right now and I wish I could have done a few things better, and given myself a few more opportunities.

"I am sure that after a few days - whenever it sinks in - I will think about how it's been a very good couple of weeks. I will try my best to work on my game, work harder, and hopefully come back and do better next time.

"I have been getting consistently better this year and each month I have been making improvements.

"My results have got better, ranking has been moving up steadily and this was my first big Grand Slam. These are the tournaments all tennis players really want to win. I didn't do it last night, and I'm going to have to work very hard to do it some day."

Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash is optimistic about Murray's chances of challenging for major honours regularly.

He said: "Murray has broken through. He has shown himself as a real threat to the top three in the world. I think there's still a little gap between the top three and the rest, but Andy deserves to be No4, no doubt about that.

"I think the whole occasion was a bit too much for him in the final.

"But Federer is something else. He just seems to play that much better in New York than almost anywhere else in the world."