Andy Murray: he may not be smiling, but he’s feeling good

Don't expect Andy Murray to smile when he comes on court at Flushing Meadows on Monday. Not because the new world number two is facing a tricky draw in the US Open - he'll have to beat the in-form Argentinian Juan Martín Del Potro and the back-from-injury Spaniard Rafael Nadal if he is to reach the final - but because he has no intention of smiling or joking around until he's done the best he can to win the tournament.

"I'm never going to smile on the court," he told the Times in a pre-tournament interview. "I don't see the other top guys smiling and joking when they are playing. It is a serious business.

"Before or after you might joke around - I spend most of my time joking around. But when you step on the court it is business. I've got three hours to concentrate so that's what I do."

The 22-year-old Scot is eager to win his first grand slam title after going out in the semi-finals at Wimbledon and was in bullish mood when he spoke with the Times - especially about his attitude to playing Nadal and the world number one Roger Federer.

"For me, when I do play Federer and Nadal, I know I'm gonna have to play great so it gets the nerves, the adrenalin going and the last few times I've played both of them I¹ve played some of my best tennis," he says.

"What hasn't been a problem for me is believing I can win. You can't go in thinking, 'I'm just going to give it my best shot and see what happens'. That's not enough, an attitude where you just go for it and don't worry about the result. When I go against them I worry a lot about the result because it's a huge match for me."

Despite the serious tone, Murray does know how to enjoy himself - especially when he's in New York. His official website carried photos of him handling a baseball bat in a "batting cage" and a golf club on a Manhattan driving range. And he's laughing his head off. ·