Great Scot, top seed is out

Andy Murray is pumped up after winning another point from world No.1 Rafael Nadal. (julie jacobson/Associated Press)

NEW YORK - A patch of blue asphalt flooring in Ashe Stadium became Scotland Yard yesterday. It belonged to a sharpshooting Scottish sleuth in short pants, who apprehended a strong-armed troublemaker from Spain after a two-day chase.

Although Arthur Murray may have taught your parents dancing, the up-to-date Scotsman, Andy Murray, danced a highland fling to perfection in collaring Rafa Nadal, who has been pushing everybody in the tennis business around all year. Rafa had flattened Murray five straight over the last two seasons, but Andy was on his trail.

Murray, a 21-year-old out of Dunblane, almost nabbed his man Saturday. However, Tropical Storm Hannah washed out some clues, and interrupted his semifinal pursuit at the US Open with Nadal still on the loose. Murray was getting close, leading, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), 2-3.

Tournament management gave Nadal another hideout, switching the engagement from Armstrong Stadium to Ashe yesterday to create more room for about 15,000 bystanders. It looked as though Nadal would escape, winning the third set. But the long right arm of the law in the person of Murray ducked Nadal's lefthanded shots, and handcuffed him, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4.

That gave Murray a promotion to today's final against the champ, Roger Federer, whom he has beaten two out of three.

A lot of people like Scotch, but whoever heard of a Scottish tennis player, much less one beating No. 1 to advance to a major title bout? The last one I was aware of, Winifred Shaw, played for Britain against the United States in the Wightman Cup in the 1960s.

For the tennis-poor Brits, Murray is as intoxicating as Scotch. He snared Nadal in time to make the London dailies this morning, and has papered over his earlier problems with the world's leading tennis press.

"As I got older, I had a better understanding of how the press works," Murray said.

Still, he got hammered this year when he ducked a Davis Cup trip to Argentina. Even his brother, Jamie, a team member and fine doubles player, publicly knocked him.

But, of course, all is forgiven now. If he can beat Federer, and I believe he has a shot, he'll be the first Brit to bag a major since - imagine this! - Fred Perry, winner of Wimbledon and the US titles in 1936. His game is more subtle than Novak Djokovic's, and, Andy thinks, similar to Federer's. "We both have gifted hands," he said.

The sixth-seeded Murray is a slim 6 feet 3 inches with a scraggly beard, shotmaking finesse in changing speeds, spins, and angles, a fine sense of where to be on the court, and as a dangerous serve (21 aces against Nadal). He showed his competitive zeal in beating the rugged, rising young Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro and Nadal in succession.

Although the crowd was rabid for Nadal, Murray said he "loved the atmosphere," preferring it to staid Wimbledon.

"This is my favorite tournament. Coming to New York, it was the first time I stayed in a five-star hotel," he said.

The toughest part of his life, he said, was leaving home at 15 to train in Spain at the academy run by Emilio Sanchez, his sister Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, and Sergio Casale. "I had to leave my family and friends, learn a new language - but it paid off with the hard work."

His original coach, his mother, Judy, a professional instructor, felt he should go to Spain, which has become a hotbed of juniors from all over (Russians Marat Safin and his sister, Dinara Safina, to name two) eager to learn how to play on clay.

Nadal regretted not capitalizing on the uproarious fourth-set passage where he survived seven break points and eight deuces in a 15-minute game, then broke Murray for a 3-1 lead. But the Scotland Yarder wouldn't let Nadal get away.

Nevertheless, what a tremendous season for the good-natured Spaniard. Two majors, French and Wimbledon, and semis in Australia and the US Open. Plus Olympic gold. Plus playing more than anybody else: eight titles, a 75-9 match record. Even this gargantuan young man can get worn down.

Murray should purchase the Ashe Stadium net, and put it in his trophy case. He profited from two net-cord points in the tense closing game. But anything to get your man.

If he triumphs today, Andy won't be the first Scotsman to take a major. Harold Mahony, born in Edinburgh, won Wimbledon in 1896, but had a tragic end. He fell off his bicycle, suffering fatal head injuries.

Word to Andy: Stay away from bicycles, and chase down the culprits on foot with a racket.