Murray: I was pants and must improve

ANDY Murray has admitted he was ‘pants' against Roger Federer at the O2 Arena last night and insists he must improve if he is to trouser his share of the £3m prize pot.

IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED: Andy Murray admits he must improve after Federer defeat at O2 (Getty Images)

The 22-year-old started brightly enough against Federer, but limped to a three-sets defeat;  this time, his habitually trustworthy serve failing to fire on a solitary cylinder.

Courtesy of his victory on the opening day of the competition over Juan Martin Del Potro, the British number one is still very much in the hunt for qualification and is almost certain to progress should he overcome Fernando Verdasco in his final group match on Thursday.

The fiery Scot is only too aware of the repercussions of a repeat performance but remains adamant qualification is all that matters.  

"I just served pants after the first set.  If you do that against someone of Roger's quality it's going to make it easy for him," said Murray.

"I didn't play well but that sometimes happens. If you miss so many first serves you put yourself under pressure.  It was a great effort to win just one set serving the way I did.

"I served so poorly that anybody would have looked good against me tonight because you get a chance pretty much every single point.

"But the important thing is that, if I beat Verdasco, and can do so in straight sets, I have a great chance of going through."

Murray is competing in just his third tournament since a two-month absence with a wrist problem and, while he is not hampered by the injury any longer, the Scot conceded the enforced break is taking its toll.

"Since returning from the injury the situation is that I do well in the first set but when the adrenalin wears off there is not the same spark," he added.

"At the start of the year I was not letting my opponents get back when I was getting ahead.

"But the only important thing is to qualify from the group. Last year in this event I won all three group matches and lost in the semi-finals, so I just need to get through."