Andy in for tough run in the Meadows.

ANDY MURRAY is preparing for a long, tough campaign at the US Open and expecting a bumpy ride from a tough draw at Flushing Meadows.

The British world No 2 and second seed has been handed a difficult route to reach the final for the second year in a row.

Drawn again in the same half as Rafael Nadal, whom he beat in last year's semi-final, Murray is once more destined for a last-four meeting with the Spaniard if he is to set up a rematch of last year's decider with Roger Federer.

Before that, the Scot must face some difficult opponents, starting with Latvia's Ernests Gulbis in the first round tomorrow and then potential meetings with Croatia's 6ft 10ins Ivo Karlovic in the third round and Argentine sixth seed Juan Martin del Potro.

That is nothing Murray did not expect, though.

"Once you get to the end of the slams, you need to raise your game, make sure you're playing great tennis," Murray said.

"Sometimes in the first few rounds that's not always the case, because there are obviously different conditions, sometimes you haven't played any matches on the court.

"So you sometimes have to go through some tough moments early in the tournament but it's about finding your way through them and then playing your way in, and by the end of the tournament it's going to be important to do everything well."

Murray is coming off a semi-final defeat to Federer while trying to defend his Cincinnati Masters title. The Swiss world No 1, returning to tennis for the first time since winning his record-breaking 15th grand slam title at Wimbledon, showed the adjustment to life as a father of twin girls born five weeks ago had taken none of his brilliance away.

And to Murray it was the same old Federer rather than a newly improved model.

"I started the match a bit sluggish and left a lot of balls in the middle of the court," Murray said.

"It's easy to say if he looked like he's playing more aggressive or he changed his game style a little bit and was coming forward a lot but I think if you watch Roger playing against anybody, if you leave the ball in the middle of the court against him, you give him enough second serves to attack."

CAPTION(S):

TOUGH DRAW: Murray

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