By Tom Fordyce and Simon Austin

Federer out-guns Murray Murray upbeat after loss

A straight sets defeat by Roger Federer is not generally something for a player to feel proud about.

But Andy Murray left the court a happy man after his loss in the final of the Thailand Open on Sunday.

The 18-year-old Scot's displays in reaching his first ATP final were not just confirmation of the talent the world saw emerging at Wimbledon and the US Open.

They were proof that he is maturing as a player far faster than anyone dreamed possible.

Murray's coach Mark Petchey admits he is both delighted and surprised by the speed of his young charge's adjustment to the professional game.

I always believed I could get to the top Andy Murray

Murray moved up to 72 in the world this week - just six months after playing his first ever ATP match.

"The target for this year was to get inside the top 100 and get into the Australian Open," Petchey told BBC Sport.

"Federer was ranked about 66 at the same age, Safin about 45 and Nadal about 55. So Andy's in the mix.

"He's extremely quick already - that's one of his main attributes - and that will even improve as well. Each month he's getting stronger."

MURRAY'S RANKING RISE Aug 2004: 569 Sept 2004: 415 June 2005: 317 Early July 2005: 213 Late July 2005: 164 Aug 2005: 132 Sept 2005: 111 Oct 2005: 72

John McEnroe's prediction last month that Murray would be a top 20 player within a year was initially greeted with scepticism.

But the temperament and range of shots Murray showed off in Bangkok now make that comment seem entirely prescient.

"So much of it is about confidence," says Petchey. "It's easy to forget that he's just 18 at the moment.

"He got confidence before Wimbledon and has been able to maintain it.

"He just needs to carry on doing the same sorts of things he's been doing.

"It's about development and Andy's going through the same process that Federer has been through."

Murray is confident he can improve every aspect of his game, but the speed of his progress has taken him by surprise.

"It's been a pretty good three months for me," he admitted.

"I wasn't expecting it, but I always believed I could get to the top. So it's a pretty big deal and I'm happy with what I've done."

I doubt if it will be long before Murray hits the top 50 - first proper title maybe next year From TP Have your say on Five Live

But how does the impressive start to his professional career compare to the early years of the established stars?

At the same age, Federer finished the season in the top 100, but had only reached a semi-final at an ATP tournament.

He did not make a final for another year, losing to Marc Rosset in Marseille.

The highlight of Tim Henman's 19th year was reaching the quarter-finals of the Bristol Challenger event.

Henman didn't make a final of a Challenger event, let alone an ATP final, until he was a year older than Murray is now.

Andre Agassi went one better than Murray aged just 17, winning his first ATP title after receiving a wild card entry similar to that given to Murray in Thailand.

He also reached the semi-finals of both the French and US Opens, whereas Murray's best showing is his third round at Wimbledon and second round at the US Open.

And Andy Roddick was, like Murray, ranked in the world's top 200 shortly after his 18th birthday and had also won the junior US Open title.

But he went no further than an ATP quarter-final until he was a year older than Murray is now.

Federer is certain that Murray's ascent will continue. "Andy will become a good player, I am sure of that," he said.

Murray is still seven months short of his 19th birthday.

Do not bet against him reaching more finals before the big day comes around.