Revived Murray declared ‘fit’ for purpose in New York

The 27-year-old has struggled all through 2014 to regain peak form and fitness following back surgery almost a year ago.

Form remains a concern to his fans if not seemingly to the man himself, but fitness-wise Murray could scarcely be happier.

The back pain that lingered through the first part of the season is in the past and the Scot had time after Wimbledon to put some serious work in at a training camp in Miami.

Asked when the last time was he felt so well prepared for a grand slam, Murray said: “Australian Open last year, Wimbledon last year would have been the last two. Obviously I missed the French.

“My back was not great during this event last year. This year, this would be the best prepared I have been coming into a slam.

“I got a great training block over in Miami done, so physically I’m where I would want to be. My body is pain-free, which is good. I feel ready. I feel confident and I’m looking forward to the start.”

There have been encouraging signs over the last couple of weeks, with Murray reaching quarter-finals in both Toronto and Cincinnati.

But he would have wanted to go further in both and had chances to do so, failing to capitalise on leads against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Roger Federer.

That surely betrayed the lack of big match wins Murray has under his belt in 2014 – he has not beaten a top-10 player or reached a final since Wimbledon last year.

He said: “I have been playing well the last few weeks. I lost to guys who won the events, and had quite big opportunities in both those matches. I feel like I’m playing well. This week has been very good preparation. I’m happy.”

Murray begins his campaign against world No 70 Robin Haase, and he knows all too well how dangerous the big-hitting Dutchman can be. They met in the second round in New York in 2011 and Haase led by two sets to love before Murray staged one of his trademark fightbacks.

The match will be played on Flushing Meadows’ second court, Louis Armstrong, where Murray has had many major struggles in the past. Haase, who was out of action for 18 months after knee surgery in 2008, smiled when asked about Murray’s struggles.

Describing his own right knee as that of a 60 or 70-year-old man, Haase said: “I call it a struggle when a guy like me is losing first rounds and second rounds.

“Every day I have pain but I love to do what I do and I’m happy I can do it.”