Andy Murray in positive mood after 'very good week' marred only by tame final defeat to Roger Federer OK, so it may not have been a five-set encounter, like their memorable Australian Open semi-final in January. But then any victory over Djokovic - who made it all the way to the French Open before he suffered his first defeat of 2011 - is a good victory. In this city of overgrown skyscrapers, Murray returned to the court on Saturday with the ambition of scaling his third peak in as many days. His prospects faded when he was broken in the ninth game of the first set - a development that at once boosted Federer's morale and knocked Murray out of his service rhythm. By the end of the match, which Federer closed out 7-5, 6-4, Murray's first-serve percentage had dropped to 48 per cent. This was unfortunate, because it had hovered around the mid-60s throughout the rest of the tournament, even during his otherwise creaky effort against Berrer. The lack of cheap points was crippling against an inspired Federer, who ambushed Murray several times by slicing a low service return and then charging the net. "I think I was just confident," Federer said. I was playing aggressive. I was focused. I didn't doubt my ability. Self-doubt has never seemed to be one of Federer's characteristics, yet in his comments after last year's ATP Tour Finals at the O₂ Arena, he revealed that he had taken some time out to address the mental frailties that were beginning to creep into his game. His recent fluency has contributed to a remarkable sequence of five titles from seven tournaments. Now all Federer needs to do is end his sequence of grand slam defeats against Rafael Nadal. Murray's mindset is also far chirpier than at this stage of the season in 2010 and 2011. In both years, defeat in the final of the Australian Open left him with a psychological hangover, lasting all the way through the two big Masters tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami. This time he is heading to California with a far more enthusiastic attitude and no points to defend, given that he lost in the opening round of both tournaments last year. "I'm positive about the American stretch," he said. The surfaces should suit me over there, and I'm getting over there early to get some good practice in.