ANDY MURRAY insisted it was his game plan not his head that was the problem as once again Rafael Nadal blocked his path to a grand slam final at the US Open.
For the third major in a row the world number four lost to his Spanish nemesis in the semi-finals to ensure his search for one of the sport’s four biggest trophies goes on.
It was another courageous effort from Murray, who became the first player this tournament to take a set off Nadal, but it was not enough as the defending champion responded to triumph 6-4 6-2 3-6 6-2.
The Scot has now lost 13 of his 17 meetings with the man from Majorca, including the last five, but he cited wins at the US Open in 2008 and the Australian Open in 2010 as evidence Nadal does not have a psychological hold over him.
Murray said: “I have beaten him before twice. It’s not the belief that’s the problem. I just need to play the right way.
“I feel like on the hard courts is my best match-up against him. On the grass I definitely need to improve, and on the clay I definitely need to improve a lot to win against him. But I don’t feel like I’m far off on the hard courts.”
Murray felt he had been too aggressive after his loss at Wimbledon in July.
