Murray's independent streak could lead him to Flushing Meadows joy

Instruction during a match may be outlawed, but a mentor's body language is sought for encouragement and reproach by a player isolated in an intense sporting cauldron.

Over the last few weeks, and at Flushing Meadows this week at the year's final grand slam, Andy Murray has been seeking inspiration from within.

For the British No 1 and world No 4 is going it alone.

Despite the most successful spell of his career in the two and a half years he spent with coach Miles Maclagan, the two men parted ways earlier this summer as the 23-year-old Scot elected for a fresh approach.

It has reaped his first title of the year in Toronto and another final in Los Angeles as he heads into the US Open in better form than any of the previous three slams.

Another of his former coaches Mark Petchey, sees the No 4 seed as the second favourite behind Roger Federer and while acknowledging the importance of a mentor in a player's life, he believes Murray's latest career decision has been liberating.

"The player/coach relationship is an intense relationship", said Petchey, who guided Murray through his early professional career.

"If it's not working there's nothing worse for a player because you're living in each other's pockets, you're travelling together, staying together.

"It needs to be totally harmonious and it wasn't. They had different ideas about how they wanted to go forward.

"Both of them can walk away with their heads held high, but it's the nature of the beast."

Murray has revealed he will not be rushed into appointing a new coach, and Petchey feels that even if he wins his maiden grand slam over the next fortnight, he won't judge it purely on his independence.

"I think he'll get somebody eventually, he probably doesn't know who it is yet, and it could be a question of whether he gets a hitting partner or a regular coach; he's probably not 100 per cent sure right now.

"Andy may just need someone a few weeks of the year and then someone to hit with.

"The thing with Andy is he won't make any rash decisions. He knows what he wants and in time he'll put that in place.

"If things go well at the US Open then maybe he'll stick with it for a while.

"It can be a positive, there are certain people who are that motivated that they can make it on their own. But it can also be tough and there are times when you're out there on the tour on your own that you need someone to freshen it up, to bounce ideas off."

Petchey coached Murray from July 2005 to April 2006, a nine-month relationship that ended with Murray citing a 'difference of opinion'.

As with Maclagan,who he has been in correspondence with since their split, Murray bears no ill-will and still confides in his old mentor.

And for Petchey, the memories of his time guiding the man who carries the hopes of a sporting-mad nation, are always fond.

"Andy's a great person to coach because he's motivated, he's determined and he's made a lot of sacrifices to get where he wants to go," said Petchey, as Murray prepares for a first-round match with Lukas Lacko of Slovakia.

"He's got a very astute mind and as a coach, I found, you've got to step up your own game to give him the right ideas.

"But he's great to work with, he's all about the tennis and there's no peripheral stuff about lifestyle going on around him."

Murray's North American revival has been attributed to a more aggressive streak that many pundits believe was tempered under Maclagan and before him, Brad Gilbert.

But Petchey – who will be commentating on the US Open for Sky Sports HD – feels such analysis is over-egging the pudding.

"His style has been a little more aggressive, but for me it wasn't a major difference to what he was doing before," he added. "He served great in Toronto and that will be a key thing over the next two weeks. But as far as being more aggressive is concerned, that's not necessarily how I saw it.

"The thing with Andy is he knows he can beat 85/90 per cent of the guys on tour regularly, especially when he is playing aggressive.

"But against the likes of Roger (Federer), Rafa (Nadal) or a Novak Djokovic, Andy can't be aggressive all the time, there's going to be a need to switch his play up in an attempt to dictate the play.

"I had dinner with him when we arrived in New York; he's confident, happy and relaxed.

"He clearly knows what it takes to get to a final and the more times he gets there eventually he'll get one, and hopefully after that he'll add a few more.

"He's calm about his grand slam prospects and he knows exactly what he has to do.

"Conditions at Flushing Meadows are pretty quick and will suit his game.

"Winning breeds familiarity. It was his first title of the year in Toronto and will help him go into this week with a huge confidence boost.

"But there's a lot of challengers in form right now; Mardy Fish in particular and David Nalbandian whose back to his old self.

"All of those have a realistic shot of going to the semis. It's going to be an exciting fortnight."

The women's draw is wide open with Petchey predicting an vast pot from which a winner could emerge.

He said: "It's so open, especially with Serena out and Venus struggling.

"You've got the likes of Caroline Wozniacki who has won recently, Kim Clijsters has a thigh injury but will have extra determination as defending champion, Maria Sharapova's in good form, as is Victoria Azarenka, Vera Zvonareva and Jelena Jankovic who is back in form.

"It's who holds their nerve in the women's draw."