Andy Murray says his US Open performance against world No 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas was an indication that he can still compete against the best players in the world.

Murray lost the five-set battle 2-6, 7-6 (9/7), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 but feels he can take a lot from the match as he tries to finish 2021 on a high note.

Murray, down at No 113 in the ATP rankings, is playing as a wild card at the Moselle Open in Metz this week where he faces French favourite Ugo Humbert in the first round.

“I played a good match there (at the US Open) in terms of the level,” Murray said in a pre-tournament press conference. “I didn’t get the outcome I wanted, but I played well so it is good to know that level of tennis is still there against the best players.

“You need to try to maintain that. I need to be playing matches and want to compete as much as I can between now and the end of the year. I won’t have a few weeks to prepare for each tournament, but it will be more like a few days. But that is the challenge. I have to do my best in these next couple of months.”

The match against Tsitsipas was shrouded in controversy with Murray taking exception to the Greek taking two lengthy bathroom breaks before winning the final two sets.

READ | Fuming Andy Murray made TWO rookie mistakes in US Open defeat to Stefanos Tsitsipas

Murray, a former world No 1, has competed in seven tour-level events this season, but has played in four tournaments in the past month at all levels, including an ATP Challenger Tour event in Rennes last week where he lost 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 to unheralded Russian Roman Safiullin in the second round.

“I want to be winning matches but just build up some robustness and get my body used to competing again on a regular basis,” Murray added. “If I win four or five matches in a week, then I might have to take a break the following week, but that hasn’t been the case the last few tournaments, so while I am feeling good physically, I just want to try and play.”

Picture: Andy Murray – ATP Tour/Twitter

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