Murray keen to relax

11:30am Thursday 4th September 2008

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Andy Murray will spend the next two days trying to avoid any thought of playing his first grand slam semi-final against world number one Rafael Nadal.

The British number one and sixth seed reached the last four of the US Open in New York on Wednesday night with another thrilling victory at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre, holding off the 17th seed Juan Martin Del Potro in a four-hour, four-set battle having led by two sets and a break against the Argentinian teenager.

"I won't think about it much," Murray said following his 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-1) 4-6 7-5 victory over 19-year-old Del Potro. "I'm sure the night before the match I'll think about it a bit, and then the day off I'll obviously speak to my coach and talk about the game plan and stuff."

He added: "But I don't want to be worrying about it or thinking too much about it before I go out there."

Murray said he was not thrilled at the prospect of the men's semi-finals and the final being just 24 hours apart.

"I think it's better if they play Friday/Sunday," he said ahead of his clash with Nadal. "It's been like that for ages. You know, it's more I think for the fans more than anything.

"The players should be able to give it their best shot. It's a slam final, so they're going to get up for it.

"I just think as a fan, if a guy plays a 7-6 in the fifth match and plays for four-and-a-half hours and the other guy plays for an hour and a half, I know who I'd be putting my money on the next day.

"I think for the fans you're not going to see the best tennis of the guy who's played the long match."

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