GREG RUSEDSKI insists Andy Murray will become the finest tennis player on the planet.

Both Rusedski and Tim Henman made it to No 4 in the world rankings during their impressive careers.

But former US Open finalist Rusedski is convinced that Murray is a better player.

Murray, who moves up two places to No 4 in the rankings, lost to Roger Federer in the final at Flushing Meadows after his sensational semi-final destruction of Rafael Nadal.

But Rusedski expects the Brit to now have regular toe-to-toe showdowns with Nadal, Federer and world No 3 Novak Djokovic at future Grand Slam tournaments.

He said: “When I made it through the semi-finals in 1997, it was a special feeling.

“Making it to a Grand Slam final at 24, I thought there would be many more to come. I didn’t realise that in the future I would never get back to one.

“But I think for Andy, he’ll do much more than myself and Tim Henman did because neither of us had been in the top 10 at 19 years of age.

“Everybody who has been in the top 10 under the age of 20 has gone on to win a Grand Slam. Ivanisevic was a late developer but he still did it at 29.

“Murray is the new No 4 in the world but he is only going to get better and better. I’m sure he will get to No 1.

“The future for him is Grand Slam finals.

“The only question mark? Will he stay healthy enough — and that’s one of the most important things we need to consider.

“At 27, Federer is not going to be at the top for that much longer — he’s already down to two in the world. So you have to imagine he might have another three years at the top before he starts going down. That is the natural course.

“Nadal is 22. But how long can he continue his incredible game?

“And then there’s Djokovic — who is going to probably be Andy’s sparring partner, with the pendulum going back and forth because they are the same age.”

Murray reached his first Slam final with an outstanding win over Nadal. The hot Scot went two sets up on Saturday before rain forced the clash into a second day.

Nadal fought back to win the third set but Murray kept his cool, raised his level and then outplayed the Spaniard.

Rusedski, who has spent the US Open as a pundit for Sky Sports, added: “Mentally, Andy has got a lot stronger and physically he has done all the hard work. This is what he has been living for.

“I don’t think he will ever feature on Dancing On Ice, no.

“I wasn’t the most natural on it but I think Andy and Tim were having a good laugh at my expense. If I’d won in 1997 I would still have done it.”

Another happy man is British Davis Cup captain John Lloyd.

Britain take on Austria in a world group play-off at Wimbledon on Friday week and Murray faces Jurgen Melzer, the player who came within just two points of beating him in the third round at Flushing Meadows.

Lloyd said: “It is an exciting tie at Wimbledon and we are lucky to have Andy, who is playing so well. I think the last two weeks will have given him a hell of a lot of confidence.

“Even when he was finding his opponents tough, Andy stuck it out, was incredibly patient — and then went in for the kill.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt that in 2009, we’ll be seeing Andy in the last few days of the Grand Slams.

“I still believe that grass could end up to be Andy’s favourite surface — even though he says he prefers hard courts — and that is why I’d make him a contender for Wimbledon next year.”