Andy Murray felt he improved as the week went on despite losing to Sam Querrey in the final of the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles (Murray 4/1 to win US Open).

The British number one has begun a new chapter in his career after parting company with coach Miles Maclagan before the Californian event and he looked far from convincing en route to the final.

However, the Scot took the first set and set up a match point in the second before his American opponent fought back to level the match and take the decider for a 5-7 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 victory – his fourth title of the year.

Murray began the year in superb fashion, reaching the final of the Australian Open but defeat to Roger Federer led to a few months of below-par tennis.

He bounced back at Wimbledon only to run into an inspired Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals and is now preparing for the US Open, where he reached the final back in 2008.

His performance in Los Angeles was patchy but the talented Brit was happy with the way his game progressed as he got deeper into the event after the disruption of sacking his coach.

“If you take the circumstances into consideration I have to be happy with getting to the final,” he said.

“I had a good week, I enjoyed it. Each match I felt better physically. I played reasonably well, better than the other matches.”

Nadal is the in-form player in world tennis and is favourite to take the title at Flushing Meadows (Nadal 11/4 to win) but Federer (3/1) will surely have a say in proceedings after his shock defeat at Wimbledon.