Once amazed at watching boxers try to pound each other senseless only to end a fight by hugging in mutual respect, Andy Murray now knows how they feel.

The world No.3 Scot, who broke his grand slam duck by downing Novak Djokovic in five sets to win the US Open in August, says that’s the kind of rivalry he and the Serbian world No.1 are building.

Murray also downed Djokovic on the way to claiming Olympic gold after having been overcome by the Serb in a see-sawing Australian Open semi-final last year, which helped Djokovic claim his third Open crown.

The pair have long been mates and Murray said the fact that some of their finest moments had come at the expense of causing great pain to each other had not ruined a friendship, only made it one of greater respect.

“I know you see it in boxing,” Murray said on Saturday.

“You find it amazing that after watching guys, you know, punch each other for 12 rounds, they hug each other at the end. They have more respect for each other after that.

“I think after the matches we’ve played over the last year or so, you know, they have been incredibly physical, they’ve been tough, it has been pretty painful at times, some of the matches.

“But I think our respect for one another has probably grown.”

If they are to meet again in this year’s Open it will be in the final.

Murray said he entered the Open carrying a lighter mental load after his US Open win removed the pressure of having never won a major.

“For most tournaments it feels that way, not just grand slams,” he said.

“I felt like I was having to prove something every time I went on the court because I hadn’t won a slam, so it’s nice just to not have to worry about that any more.”