Devvarman looks for inspiration

Somdev Devvarman is hoping playing on the biggest stage can inspire him to a US Open first-round upset against Andy Murray at Flushing Meadows.

The Indian will take on the fourth seed in the second match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, which can seat more than 22,500 people, as the duo finally get their campaign under way.

He said: "I've never played on one of the main courts in any of the slams so it's going to be a great experience for sure."

He added: "He's obviously playing very well right now, he just won Cincinnati, so it's going to be a very tough match for me to win but it's tennis and anything can happen. I'm going to go out and give it my best, try to have some fun and win the match."

Although Devvarman's record on the ATP World Tour is modest, he showed he can handle pressure when he won the men's singles title at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi last year.

"That was fun for me," he said. "Playing in my home country and winning the gold over there was something special."

Devvarman feels at home in America, too, after studying at the University of Virginia, where he was extremely successful in college competitions.

The 26-year-old added: "I went to college over here for four years and half my college friends work in New York so hopefully a few of them will come to the match."

Murray, who is not a fan of the scheduling that sees the first round dragged out over three days, will be hoping to make it three British players into the second round.

After Laura Robson's success on Monday, Elena Baltacha defeated Jamie Hampton in dramatic circumstances when the American wild card collapsed with full body cramp while trailing 2-6 6-2 5-1, but Anne Keothavong was beaten 7-5 6-3 by Chanelle Scheepers.