Andy Murray is determined to put recent disappointments behind him

Andy Murray is determined to put recent disappointments behind him and confirm he is still a contender for the major prizes at the US Open.

The Briton will begin his campaign for a third Grand Slam title, and second at Flushing Meadows, against Dutchman Robin Haase at around 18:00 BST on Monday.

Murray arrived at Flushing Meadows on the back of three successive quarter-final defeats, and without a title or a win over a top-10 player since Wimbledon last year.

This trophy drought and the consequent slide down the rankings have raised questions about where his career might be heading, but the man himself has looked more relaxed than ever in New York.

A trip to watch golf's world number one Rory McIlroy in action was followed by a courtside seat at a USA basketball game.

And the Scot had a typically wry take on his mother's imminent appearance in Strictly Come Dancing when asked whether he would be watching: "Probably not, no."

If all appears well away from tennis, the next days and weeks will tell us whether Murray really has something to worry about on court.

Two major upheavals in his career have occurred since that landmark victory at the All England Club: back surgery last September and a split with coach Ivan Lendl in March.

"I think the first step was to get back the confidence in his body," said Miles MacLagan, who coached Murray from 2007 to 2010.

"This is a world-class athlete who went through surgery and it took him a while, but the results are there that he hasn't beaten a top-10 player.

"When you're functioning at the highest level and pushing yourself day in, day out, you don't just have a couple of practices and it's there. It's something you build up to.

"The good signs are that he has played some good tennis, it's just mentally taking a little bit longer."