The muscular Spaniard has won a fourth successive French Open, his first Wimbledon title and Olympic gold in Beijing before ending a record 237 consecutive weeks at the top of the rankings for Roger Federer.

Although disappointed to be upset 6-2, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 by Murray in the final Grand Slam event of the year, Nadal was delighted to reach the semi-final stage at Flushing Meadows for the first time.

“I accept the losses with the same calm when I win,” the 22-year-old Majorcan told reporters after succumbing to Murray in three hours 30 minutes. “So I am disappointed? Yes. But at the same time, I am happy because I did good semi-finals here. Probably when I arrived here, my situation wasn’t the best with too many tournaments and too many matches on my shoulders.

“But I fight well and I had a good tournament so I go from the US Open with positive things, with a good tournament, no?”

Magnificent run

Nadal’s magnificent 2008 campaign has included eight ATP titles and a win-loss record of 75-9. The Spaniard has lost only three times in his last 57 matches and has achieved every goal he laid out for himself at the start of the year. “Almost a perfect season, no?” he said with a smile. “I did incredible things for me. What I didn’t expect was a season like this after starting out playing so-so.”

Nadal paid tribute to Murray’s display. “He played well. I have my chance in the fourth and I didn’t convert,” said the Spaniard. “He played better than me and he beat me. I just congratulate him.”