ANDY MURRAY'S latest victory over Rafael Nadal in Rotterdam has proven beyond doubt he has the talent to win grand slams - but the question remains as to whether he can do it on the big occasion.
This win over Nadal may have been ultimately secured by the Spaniard's injury at the end of the contest, but Murray played well enough in the early part of the game to deserve the victory.
And even if critics want to write off this latest success, Murray's two previous matches against Nadal also ended in a Scottish triumph, with the semi-final win at Flushing Meadow last year being particularly noteworthy.
Nadal himself was gracious in defeat after losing this weekend and forecast a positive future for Murray, saying there was no reason why he could not become world number one. Bookmakers now put Murray at only 6/4 to win a grand slam this season, and in the tennis world there the feeling that it is only a matter of time before he finally steps through the door to greatness.
But it is naturally not as simple as that, and circumstances can change very quickly.
Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt both made the breakthrough as grand slam winners, but the former has failed to add to his one title and the Australian is marooned on two, having been rapidly overtaken by a new group of players.
So while it seems Murray's time is now, until he puts away the last winner in a grand slam final, nothing can be taken for granted.
 It's all very well him beating the sublime Roger Federer several times, but the most significant recent meeting between the two came in the 2008 US Open final and Murray came up significantly short. Federer was in simply unstoppable form then - but if that is the level Murray wants to reach, then he needs to lift his game further.
In his most insecure moments, Murray may think of his compatriot Colin Montgomerie, who played superb golf but by hook or by crook always lost out in the majors. And in losing it was rare that Monty could blame himself – all too often someone else just played better on the day.
Fate can also conspire against the talented, and though he looks stronger than ever, Murray's previous injury history will remain a concern to even his staunchest fans. Murray discovered in his five set loss to Fernando Verdasco in Melbourne that even players below the level of Nadal and Federer can prove fatal to his grand slam chances.
That defeat will have given Federer, who normally talks about Murray in a complimentary fashion, cause for a wry smile, given what happened before the tournament.
The Swiss was none too pleased that Murray had been described in some quarters as favourite to scoop the title ahead of champions such as himself, Nadal and Novak Djokovic, despite never winning a previous slam.
And Federer, ice cool at the crucial points, knows a thing or two about the mentality needed to triumph on the big days.
Murray himself has realised that talent alone isn't enough and that timing and temperament are also necessary weapons in the armoury of a top star.
His comments after the Rotterdam victory made it perfectly clear he realised both how far he has come and how much further he needs to go. "I have started to play better outdoors in the bigger tournaments," he said. "I have made at least the semis of all of the Masters Series tournaments in the States. I want to try and up keep that form in the slams now. That's my goal, to try and win a slam."
Earlier in his career, Murray frequently showed petulant outbursts when things weren't going his way but he is now controlling his temper and focusing his energy on winning the next point.
Determination and fighting spirit will not be lacking in Murray's journey but for his own sake, and the hopes of his fans, it may be best to wait until he finally fulfils his potential by winning a grand slam rather than celebrating the fact in advance.
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