Magical season eases Nadal's pain after Murray loss

NEW YORK (Reuters) - World number one Rafael Nadal eased the pain of his semi-final loss to sixth-seeded Briton Andy Murray at the U.S. Open on Sunday by reflecting back on a near-perfect season.

Over the last four months, the muscular Spaniard has won a fourth successive French Open, his first Wimbledon title and Olympic gold in Beijing before ending a record 237 consecutive weeks at the top of the rankings for Roger Federer.

Although disappointed to be upset 6-2 7-6 4-6 6-4 by Murray in the final grand slam event of the year, Nadal was delighted to reach the semi-final stage at Flushing Meadows for the first time.

"I accept the losses with the same calm when I win," the 22-year-old Majorcan told reporters after succumbing to Murray in three hours 30 minutes in the showpiece Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"So I am disappointed? Yes. But at the same time, I am happy because I did good semi-finals here.

"Probably when I arrived here, my situation wasn't the best to play a good tournament with too many tournaments and too many matches on my shoulders.

"But I fight well and I had a good tournament so I go from the U.S. Open with positive things, with a good tournament, no?"

Nadal's magnificent 2008 campaign has included eight ATP titles and a win-loss record of 75-9. The Spaniard has lost only three times in his last 57 matches and has achieved every goal he laid out for himself at the start of the year.

'INCREDIBLE THINGS'

"Almost a perfect season, no?" he said with a smile. "I did incredible things for me. What I didn't expect was a season like this after starting out playing so-so.

"Roland Garros (the French Open), a perfect tournament. And then an unbelievable win at Queen's after Roland Garros. For me, the more unexpected victory of the season, Queen's.

"And later, Wimbledon. You know how important it is for me to win Wimbledon after two years playing the final," he added, referring to his successive defeats by Federer before finally beating the Swiss maestro to clinch the grasscourt title.

"After Wimbledon, I had a big goal in my mind. The number one (ranking) and the Olympics and for sure, finally, the U.S. Open.

"So I did every tournament very well and I am happy for everything. But the season is not over and I have the semi-finals of the Davis Cup."

Nadal paid tribute to Murray's display at Flushing Meadows where the Briton was also appearing for the first time in the semi-finals.

"He played well. I have my chance in the fourth and I didn't convert," said the Spaniard, who had beaten Murray in their previous five meetings. "He played better than me and he beat me. I just congratulate him."

Murray will face four-times defending champion Federer in Monday's final and Nadal predicts a close battle.

"Tomorrow Andy has his chances," he said. "I think Federer is going to be the favorite but Andy is doing very well. He is having a very good second part of the season. He's a very, very good player and he can do everything."

(Editing by Larry Fine)