Safin gives Murray lesson in experience

"It would have been a bad loss for me," the Russian world No 4 said. "Even playing bad, I should have won this kind of match, because I have more experience and he is a newcomer."

Safin, the Australian Open champion, who has struggled with a knee injury since Wimbledon, admitted that he had eased up from 4-0 down in the second set after Murray had made an impressive recovery after being treated for a sore shoulder towards the end of the opening set.

Murray, ranked 132 in the world, will now try to qualify for the US Open, where he won the junior title last year. "I made a lot of mistakes [against Safin]," he said. "I didn't put enough first serves in, and the games where I got broken I made too many mistakes off easy balls."

Tim Henman, the British No 1, received treatment for a strained stomach muscle while losing to Juan Ignacio Chela, of Argentina, 6-4, 6-4, but hopes the injury will not hinder his plans for the US Open.