Dispensing with a coach has been a good move so far for Andy Murray.

Since splitting in late July with Miles Maclagan, his coach for three years, the fourth-ranked Murray has reached the finals at Los Angeles and beaten top-ranked Rafael Nadal and 16-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer in Toronto.

"I felt great last week," Murray said. "It's only been a few weeks (without) a coach, and I'm happy on my own. I played some of my best tennis last week. I think I've improved since Wimbledon."

The 23-year-old Scot will take the No 4 ranking into a second-round match against 58th-ranked Frenchman Jeremy Chardy.

Murray, who won in Cincinnati in 2008, is hoping this year's tournament is the next step on the road to a US Open title.