Murray knows only perfection will do

Andy Murray has British sporting history in his sights but knows Roger Federer is plotting to spoil the party.

The Scot gives short shrift to suggestions he will be facing Federer at anything other than the Swiss player's imperious best in Sunday's Wimbledon final, and believes he needs to find the "perfect" performance. Federer, 30, is looking to equal Pete Sampras' record of seven Wimbledon titles.

"Over the last couple of years his record in the slams has been unbelievable," said Murray. "The matches that he lost here, he was up two sets to love against (Jo-Wilfried) Tsonga last year. He's lost some close matches in the slams the last few years, but he had match points against Novak (Djokovic) at the US Open two years in a row."

He continued: "If you look at the way he played (against Djokovic), you can't say he's past it or because he's 30 he's playing worse tennis. I just think the players around him have got better."

Murray reached his first Wimbledon final and fourth grand slam decider with a 6-3 6-4 3-6 7-5 victory over Tsonga to break a 74-year British hoodoo in the men's singles.

Eleven times a home player had reached the semi-finals since Bunny Austin made the final in 1938, including Murray the last three years, but all had fallen at the final hurdle.

With that sequence ended, now Murray can become the first British men's singles champion since Fred Perry in 1936.

The Scot has come through a tough draw to reach the final and, although the whole country will be focused on Centre Court, Murray's main motivation comes from within.

He said: "Almost every time you step on the court you're trying to prove something to yourself. I think that's what motivates you to get better. Also the players that are around me, as well.

"I think you can't stay at the top of any sport, especially one as competitive as tennis, if you don't have very good self motivation. I think that's very important."