Britain’s Andy Murray has all the tools in his game to cause a few surprises and go far in this year's US Open. After missing out on two of the year's Grand Slam events because of a wrist injury, the Scot will be determined to cause a storm in America.

His chances obviously depend on how quickly he can regain his winning touch after months out of the game. The upcoming Masters series in Montreal and Cincinnati will give him and his fans the chance to discover if he is now 100 percent back to fitness.

Last year, the 19-year-old was defeated by Russian Nikolay Davydenko, who consistently ranks among the top 10 players in the world. Murray's challengers for the title, apart from world No.1 Roger Federer, include Andy Roddick, Rafael Nadal, Fernando Gonzalez and Novak Djokovic. Outsiders Lleyton Hewitt, James Blake, Tommy Haas, Ivan Ljubicic and Richard Gasquet could also cause a few upsets along the way.

'This event gives Murray the chance to take advantage of playing in front of a crowd where he is popular'


But Murray's belief that he belongs with the world's best gives him a real chance of winning his first Grand Slam crown. There is no doubt the youngster has improved rapidly, rising into the world's top 10 rankings and beating Federer along the way. At times Murray has lost matches over five sets but with more experience on the tour, the Scot will be confident he can now battle all the way through a four-to-five-hour match. Plus the final Grand Slam of the year is played on his favourite surface of a hard court which has brought him many impressive wins in the past.

Top players Federer, Haas and Gonzalez have all fallen to Murray in 2006 at the US hard-court season so there is good reason for optimism. Federer will be chasing down Pete Sampras' record of Grand Slam victories and will attempt to add the US open to his successes at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

Roddick’s shock defeat to Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon prevented the in-form American having a real chance of testing Federer. Although the Swiss eased past Roddick in Australia back in January, he would have believed that on grass a close five-set match was on offer.

With the home support backing their former US Open champion, Roddick will want to make up for the disappointment of SW19. This support will add the same pressure on all the American players at Flushing Meadows which Henman, and more recently Murray, experience at Wimbledon.

This event gives Murray the chance to take advantage of playing in front of a crowd where he is popular. If drawn against Roddick or Blake in the later stages he could overcome higher-ranked players with less expectation on the youngster’s shoulders.

Dunblane born Murray won his first ATP tournament at San Jose and reached the semis in Memphis, Miami and Indian Wells this year prior to his injury. More success could be waiting for Britain’s best hope in the spotlight of the USA - against all the odds.