Set aside despair and enjoy master's glimpses of tennis perfection

Grand Slam champion or one of the nearly men of tennis? The question mark still hangs over Andy Murray today after his straight-sets loss to Roger Federer in the Australian Open final.

The omens had been so promising. The way the British No 1 romped through the field to the title round left the inescapable feeling that this could be the moment for Murray to join the game's elite.

He had looked the complete player whether he was demolishing Rafael Nadal or confounding Marlin Cilic with breathtaking shots like his baseline pursuit and riposte to a perfect lob or the forehand drive which whirled round the net post. Cue the primordial howl.

What a sublime way it would be to end the tournament by collecting his first grand slam title 74 years after Britain's last winner of the event, Fred Perry. And how apt if it should happen in Melbourne, where Perry died in 1995.

That was the dream scenario as far as British tennis was concerned but Federer uncorked a vintage performance to rewrite the plot and win 6-3 6-4 7-6. This was his 16th grand slam title and although, at 28, he is no longer young in tennis terms, who is to say it will be his last?

There was something magisterial in the way he ruled the rallies. Even when he was five times set point down in the tie-break he was relatively unruffled.

The serenity and elegance of his play absorbed all that Murray could manufacture and in the end it was a master class in how to win a major final.

Personally I am reluctant to attached the label of "greatest" to any sportsman because it is hard, even unfair, to judge one era against another.

But as time unfolds it becomes harder and harder to dispute the assertion that Federer is the most accomplished tennis player of all time.

Ultimately the cracks will appear but for the time being let us enjoy these glimpses of tennis perfection.

It was all on show in the Rod Laver Arena as Federer thwarted what was a formidable challenge by an opponent who has inherited the role of Britain's standard bearer in the great tennis arenas of the world.

As for the Murray camp they will know there is no cause for despair. They believe that his time will come and there is firm evidence that they are right in terms of fitness, strokes and attitude.

What is lacking is that major breakthrough which could open the floodgates to grand slam success.

There was disappointment in the US Open final in 2008 – again to Federer - and now despair in Melbourne.

With every major defeat the pressure mounts and this year will be a relentless test of Murray's capabilities.

Wimbledon is an obvious target, but the US Open seems a more realistic objective.

Murray is maturing as a personality and has far more people on his side than in the glum years when his moody tantrums cost him fans.

He seems ready to shoulder the hopes of a nation with an occasional smile as well as the primal screams.

There was a nice touch at the presentation ceremony when Murray could not disguise his tears of disappointment, but made a joke of it.

"I might cry like Roger Federer," he said. "It's a shame I can't play like him."

Federer told him: "You are too good a player not to win a grand slam, so don't worry about it."

It was a sincere compliment and a genial exchange after a contest which emphasised the wondrous strengths of the winner, while underlining the challenges which lie in wait for the loser.