Murray Proud Despite "Tough" Loss

© Getty ImagesAndy Murray was appearing in his first Wimbledon final.

Andy Murray admitted his four-set loss to Roger Federer on Sunday in the Wimbledon final was “tough”.

The Scot told reporters, “Today [was] pretty hard, because you're playing in front of a [British] crowd like that. The atmosphere was unbelievable, one of the best I've played in. [My] whole family had come to watch. So, yeah, it's tough.”

Murray is now 0-4 in Grand Slam championship finals, but believes he has  improved on his performances.
 
“I'd say that's the best I've played in a slam final,” he said. “It wasn't like I gave away bad games or stupid games and stuff. I played a good match. I made pretty good decisions for the most part, so I'm happy with that. I felt more comfortable this morning and before the match than I had done maybe in the previous slams.

Read: Federer Wins 17th Major | How The Final Was Won

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“It's not an easy tournament for British players in many ways, but I think I dealt with all of the extra things away from the tournament pretty well,   better than maybe I had done in the past. It was my first time in a Wimbledon final. I'd never been there before. I played three semis beforehand. So I'm still improving, still playing better tennis, trying to improve, which is all I can do.”

Murray was quick to praise Federer, who lifted his first major title since January 2010 at the Australian Open and will return to No. 1 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings on Monday.

When asked whether Federer could be classified as the greatest athlete in history, 25-year-old Murray said, “He’s up there. Rafa [Nadal], as well, for me is up there in that conversation, as well. Both of them have been unbelievable athletes. They've been great for the sport.

“Federer’s still playing amazing tennis. A lot of people have been asking me, ‘Has he started slipping?’ [and] ‘Is he not playing as well?’ If you look at the matches he lost the last couple years, [they were] very, very close matches; matches he definitely could have won. He could be sitting on 20 Grand Slams [but for] one point or a couple inches here or there. So he's still playing great tennis. I don't think you get to [World] No. 1 unless you deserve it.”

Murray, who will not return to training in the next seven days, admitted, “It's been a great tournament I think for tennis, and I'm glad that I'm part of that.” 

The World No. 4 became the first British man to reach the Wimbledon singles final since 1938.