Murray wants first grand slam to come at US Open

 IT won't come as good news to the Henman Hill faithful but Andy Murray has admitted he would most like to break his grand slam duck at Flushing Meadows rather than the manicured lawns of Wimbledon.

 MY TIME: Andy Murray ready to end his wait for a grand slam at Flushing Meadows

The British number one and world number two begins his US Open campaign on Tuesday against Latvia's Ernests Gulbis, in a bid to end Great Britain's long-standing grand slam drought for the fourth time this year.

Murray reached the final at Flushing Meadows in 2008, only to be pulled to pieces by a predatory Roger Federer in full flow, having defeated Spain's Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals.

The Scot has not reached another grand slam final since, having run into big-serving American Andy Roddick in flawless form in the Wimbledon semi finals.

One of Murray's greatest strengths is his adaptability, prompting many to suggest he is best equipped to lift the SW19 trophy aloft first, with so many on the ATP Tour unable to adjust to life on the grass.

But the 22-year-old Dublane-born ace is convinced his chance will come in New York and believes there's no time like the present to prove it.

"I can have a good tournament here and still not win it," said Murray, who defeated Gulbis at the All England Club last year in just 88 minutes.

"Both Roger {Federer] and Rafa [Nadal] are arguably the best two players ever. I'm sure by the time they finish they'll have the most slams between any two rivals, so they're obviously two of the best ever.

"So if I could win it, I think it would make the achievement that much better.

"If I don't I will be very disappointed because I would love to win this grand slam, maybe more than any of the others.

"I've had some great matches here and the atmosphere on these courts is incredible. I have to believe I can win it and I've always said this is my favourite surface. I think I'm ready this year."

Murray has history with Gulbis, who accused the Scot of underhand tactics and of feigning a thumb injury at Queen's in 2008.

The Brit did not take kindly to those words and promptly dumped him out of Wimbledon this year, but Murray is only too aware of the threat the Latvian poses.

"He's a tough player, he's a year younger than me but he's got a big game and I think he made the quarters a couple of years ago and lost in a tight match to Andy Roddick," he said.

"I've got to be at the top of my game and focus hard and if I do that I've got a good chance of winning."

Murray's potential path to the final is littered with danger with Stanislas Wawrinka, big-serving Ivo Karlovic and Juan Martin Del Potro all likely opponents, with Nadal possibly waiting in the last four.