Rafael Nadal believes that 'tennis owed Andy Murray something' before the Scot's victory at this year's US Open.

Murray defeated Novak Djokovic in a five-set thriller at Flushing Meadows in September to claim his maiden major title, and Nadal believes that the key to his triumph was winning the Olympic men's singles tournament a month earlier.

Nadal told The Times: "I really thought Andy would win the US Open because tennis owed him something. That was my feeling.

"The Olympics was a big change and with the calm of winning that gold medal at home, you go to a Grand Slam final and you feel that Andy, before the match, believed he was the favourite.

"If you really believe in yourself, it doesn't matter if you were leading by two sets to love and the opponent comes back."

Nadal has not played since he lost in the second round of Wimbledon in June.