US Open:Andy Murray is intent on continuing his improvement as he continues his quest for a first grand slam title at the US Open tonight.
World number two Murray is set to begin his US Open campaign with a match under the floodlights at Flushing Meadows in the early hours of tomorrow morning having been given a prime-time spot for American television on day two of the final grand slam of the year.
Murray's first-round tie against Ernests Gulbis of Latvia has been scheduled as the second match on at Arthur Ashe Stadium during the night session, which will be opened at midnight (Irish time) by former women's champion Maria Sharapova, seeded 29, who plays Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova.
Having won five titles on the ATP Tour this year and risen to the world number two ranking behind Roger Federer at the expense of the injured Rafael Nadal, Murray is as committed as ever to improving his game in order to compete consistently well at the highest level.
"There are always things that you try to improve regardless of what your ranking is or how old or young you are," 22-year-old Murray said.
"You're always wanting to try and get better. So regardless whether you get to number one or number two in the world, you're always trying to improve.
"I think that's one of the things that's been very impressive about Roger and Rafa over the last few years, that they've always been to the top of their game but they're always improving."
Nor does the Scot's rising status in the game prevent him from looking beyond first-round opponent Gulbis, the Latvian he beat handily on grass earlier this summer in the second round at Wimbledon.
"I always end up getting asked about (the draw), so you end up knowing pretty much what the draws are or who you might play if you get anywhere," he said.
"But you learn over the years if you play enough slams, that sometimes draws open up and the guys that are meant to get there don't, and sometimes they surprise guys that come through and you go right to the finals.
"So you know what's going on, but it doesn't make me look past who I'm playing at all."
The day session on Ashe begins with French Open women's champion and 2004 US Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova playing Germany's Julia Georges before fellow Russian, world number one and top seed Dinara Safina, faces Australian wild card Olivia Rogowska.
Men's fourth seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia rounds off the day's play when he takes on Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia.
Djokovic's compatriot Jelena Jankovic starts her challenge as women's fifth seed on the Louis Armstrong Stadium court against Italy's Roberta Vinci, while fourth seed Elena Dementieva of Russia has been scheduled to play at the Grandstand Stadium against Camille Pin of France.
Australian Open champion and world number three Rafael Nadal will have to wait until day three of the championship to begin his bid for a maiden US Open title and career Grand Slam.
Nadal, who missed the defence of both his French Open and Wimbledon titles due to tendinitis in his knees, is set to play France's Richard Gasquet in the first round.
The men's doubles draw gets under way with Britain's Ross Hutchins partnering Australian Stephen Huss as the 15th seeds take on Belgian Olivier Rochus and Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.