Andy Murray has fine-tuned his game since reaching his first Grand Slam final at last year's US Open, boosting his confidence that he might be able to capture his first major title this time.

The year's final Slam tournament begins on Monday on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts with the British world number two seeded second to five-time defending champion Roger Federer, who beat Murray in straight sets in last year's final.

"I'm playing a lot better," Murray said on Saturday. "Up until Wimbledon last year, I was playing top-10 tennis but not tennis that was consistent enough to get me to number two in the world.

"My consistency has been a lot better. Physically I feel stronger than I was last year. There's not one thing I would take out that has gotten a lot better, but I think everything has just got that little bit better.

"That's the difference when you get close to the top - there's not one major thing that changes but a lot of little things."

Murray, who made a run to the Wimbledon semifinals last month, is in the opposite half of the draw from Federer so the 22-year-old Scotsman could face a championship rematch against the Swiss 15-time Slam winner.

"One of the few things I want to do now in tennis is to win a Slam," Murray said. "It's incredibly difficult to do but something I believe is possible.

"A lot of players say when they win their first Slam it's sort of a relief because it is so much hard work you put into it. I'm hoping I can do it here."

Murray loves the noisy Broadway atmosphere of the New York event compared to the other majors.

"It's just a very different atmosphere than the other Grand Slams," Murray said. "If you look at the crowds, the way matches go on center court with the big screen and the music, the stars that come to watch - it's taste is a little bit different."

Murray, 53-8 this season, has won four of his five matches against Federer since last year's US Open, losing only a week ago in a Cincinnati semifinal, and moved past Spain's Rafael Nadal into the world number two ranking.

"I don't feel like I was unfortunate to be born in this era. I think it's a great thing to play alongside those two," Murray said. "I view Roger and Rafa as the two best rivals ever.

"But at the same time I think you raise your game to the competition you play against. Playing against those guys when I was younger, I realized I needed to get a lot better and work physically."

Pushing to his first Slam final at last year's US Open was another milestone for Murray to show he had the stamina for a fortnight.

"Until you have actually done it, you don't know," Murray said. "I learned a lot from last year. I went away and worked very hard to improve myself. The last couple years I've worked very hard on my fitness. I don't think it's ever going to be a problem again."