I need to get better if I am to beat one or two of all-time greatest players – Murray

Andy Murray recognises he must find ways to improve his game before making the transition from grand slam contender to champion.

After losing in the Wimbledon semi-final for a second year in a row, this time to Rafael Nadal, Murray has started to assess how he needs to change.

He said: "I need to go away and work harder and get better.

"That's all I can do. It was a good tournament and it was nice to be back playing good tennis."

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Belief is a key element in the make-up of a grand slam winner, and Murray knows he must never let his conviction waver.

He should again stand a great chance of making his major title breakthrough at the US Open in September, and knows he must go to New York and future grand slams equipped with the confidence he can triumph.

"I need to believe that, that's the most important thing," he said. "That's what I'm working towards, but it hasn't happened yet and it's not going to be given to me.

"I'll need to beat one or two of the greatest players of all-time if I want to do it probably and I need to get better if I want to do that.

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"I'm hoping I've still got quite a few years left at the top of the game, playing great tennis."

One report claimed Murray is considering whether to part company with his coach Miles Maclagan after almost three years together. For now, the 23-year-old Scot is planning to take a holiday in the United States before tackling the North American hardcourt season.

Tim Henman, who fell in the Wimbledon semi-finals four times, is convinced Murray will soon be back on the practice courts working on what he needs to add to make the transition from 'nearly man' status.

Henman said: "As with most of the players at that level, they're such good competitors they want to get out there and start working again and trying to improve so they can have even better results, and I'm sure – I've no doubt in my mind – that will be the case for Andy."

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And Henman suggests that even if any doubt enters Murray's mind, the pain of defeat will inspire him to keep working away.

"It's only human nature to have those 'What if?' moments, but that's what you have to get out of your mind very quickly," Henman said.

"If you play through those different scenarios and one of those might be 'What happens if I don't win?', you've got to use that as a motivating factor to work incredibly hard on all aspects of not just your tennis game (but also) your fitness, to give yourself the best chance of achieving it. That's the reality for Murray."