Live coverage from 2200BST | Murray attempts to make history

British fans have proclaimed a bright future for tennis star Andy Murray despite his failed bid to become the first British man to win a Grand Slam singles title since Fred Perry.

The 21-year-old boy-next-door from Dunblane, Scotland, lost the US Open Final in straight sets as Swiss powerhouse Roger Federer claimed the title for a record fifth consecutive year.

But the vociferous British fans at New York's Flushing Meadows said Murray acquitted himself well - especially after playing a rain-interrupted semi-final against world number one and Olympic gold medalist Rafael Nadal on Saturday and Sunday.

Times Archive, 1936: F. J. Perry's great victory

Perry played like the champion he is and simply overwhelmed Budge with perfectly placed drives and unreturnable services

• Victory of Perry, 1933

• Perry's fine record, 1934

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"He was tired. I could see it," said Jeremy Levin, from Richmond, London, who works in New York. "But he has got a great future. Look at how young he is. He is absolutely fabulous."

Paul Philips from Cheddar, Somerset, said he believed Murray would eventually become the first British man to win at the top level since Fred Perry's 1936 US Open win.

"There are a lot of positives to take from it," he said. "I think Murray can do it. He is a gutsy player. He does not just lie down."

"I believe it was a fairly strong performance, but I think the 'Fed' is back. He was completely motivated to win the game."

Steven Greer and his wife and two children landed in New York, dumped their suitcases and headed straight for the US Open tennis final.

The family from Clydebank, outside Glasgow, abandoned their other holiday plans in New York to seize on an historic opportunity to watch a British player win a Grand Slam title.

"It's amazing. I cannot believe it," Mr Greer said. "The taxi driver asked us: 'Do many people play tennis in Scotland?' I said, 'Not many... Andy Murray."

"We thought we really have to go," he said.