Gilbert tips Andy Murray to realise grand slam dream

Andy Murray is on course to win a tennis major, according to his former coach Brad Gilbert.

Murray begins his bid to land the US Open title at Flushing Meadows in just over a week and Gilbert maintains that he is finally playing the right type of aggressive tennis to end Britain's 74-year wait for a men's Grand Slam singles champion.

Gilbert, who coached Murray for 18 months before parting company with the British No 1, said: "When I started coaching him almost five years ago he had this five-year plan that his game was going to blossom.

"He felt it was going to happen at the Australian Open (where he was beaten by Roger Federer in the final in January]. Everything was lined up and I think he had a hangover from that for about four or five months.

"I think now finally that he's changed his game, he's finally over that and at 23 years old he is coming into his own and now it's just a matter of getting to the finish line, but he really believes he can do it."

Gilbert maintains that Murray, who won the Toronto Masters earlier this month despite being still without a coach after releasing Miles Maclagan, has accepted he needs to play more aggressively.

Gilbert told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme: "I have never seen Andy Murray play more positive and aggressive tennis than in Toronto. He did not rely on defence and it is so much more economical to play offensive tennis.

"By nature he likes to play defensive, he can weave tangled webs and get out of it, but it's so much more enjoyable and fun to play offensive and win offensive and that's what he's doing and that's what he needs to do to win majors."

Meanwhile Roger Federer ended a seven-month title drought with a 6-7 7-6 6-4 win over Mardy Fish, conqueror of Murray on Friday, in the Cincinnati Masters final last night to send a timely reminder of his class just a week before the US Open.

Federer captured his 63rd title in his 90th final and his victory was his fourth at Cincinnati since his first win in the tournament in 2005.

But having failed to win a title since his record 16th grand slam win at the Australian Open in January, a run which included defeat to Murray in the final at Toronto last week, the Swiss needed this boost.

"I've been playing well the last couple weeks, and today was just another proof that I'm playing really well," he said. "It's nice knowing that the hard work already in the off season after Wimbledon paid off right away. I know it's not all (about) work from there but I've been committed to this sport for many years. I think when you do that and give yourself chances over and over again, you'll break through by winning tournaments again.

"I came close a couple times earlier in the season. Should have won Halle, I felt. Could have won Madrid, but things didn't really work my way.

"I was maybe playing a little bit too passive. Now I'm taking it more to the opponents again. I'm happy that that's the right game plan right now," he added.

Fish enhanced his growing reputation as a threat on the hard court with a display that bodes well for his chances at Flushing Meadows and his recent run, including wins at Newport and Atlanta, takes him up to 21st in the world.

There was nothing to choose between the pair in a tight opening set which Fish won on a tiebreak but the momentum shifted in the second set when Federer, facing defeat, raised his game a notch to run out a 7-1 winner in another tiebreak.

Fish maintained his focus on continued to serve and return well but Federer produced the first break of the match to go 5-4 up and then kept serve to win.

Andre Agassi, in Miami eight years ago, remains the only American to have beaten Federer in the 15 finals where he has taken on a US player.

The latest triumph came after just three hours and 25 minutes of tennis in the tournament before the final, thanks to a first round bye, a retirement by his second round opponent and a third round walkover.