Murray maintains faith in Slam pursuit

Andy Murray believes he is getting closer to breaking his grand slam duck despite suffering a straight sets defeat to Roger Federer in the final of the Australian Open.

The 22-year-old was beaten 6-3 6-4 7-6 (13/11) under the Rod Laver Arena lights in the second major final appearance of his career.

Murray also lost to Federer in straight sets in his first trip to a grand slam final at the 2008 US Open. However, the Scot found more reason to be enthused by his display this time around.

An anxious beginning had allowed Federer to coast through the opening two sets. But Murray went toe-to-toe with the world number one in the third set and passed up five set points in an enthralling tie-break before Federer finally closed out the match.

"Tonight's match was a lot closer than the one at Flushing Meadows," he said. "I had chances at the end of the match. It's just the second set that didn't go my way, not that any of them went my way, but obviously I felt like I had opportunities in the rest of them.

"I'm getting closer (to a grand slam). My results in the grand slams would show that. I've just got to keep working hard."

Murray, who will rise to world number three after his final loss, made a tearful post-match speech and while he admitted the emotion of failing to reach his lifetime ambition had been hard to stomach, he vowed to one day lift one of tennis' most prized trophies.

"I don't feel great," he added. "I worked really hard to get to this stage. I wanted to win the tournament.

"It was pretty emotional at the end of the match, but I'm hungry to win one. It's something I've wanted since I was 16 or 17, but so far it's not been good enough.

"I'm sure one day it will be. When it comes, maybe because of the two losses, it will be even better."