Apart from Federer, modern-day legends of the game such as Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Sania Mirza, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will be among several others fighting it out at the tournament. Djokovic won their clash in the Wimbledon final, while Federer avenging the loss by taking out Djokovic in the Cincinnati final.
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But he bounced back to beat Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final. Wawrinka’s brutal blow in the French Open final altered a crucial piece of statistic for the men’s world No. 1, ensuring he arrived at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre with a still staggering 20-1 record in majors this season, but not quite the ideal 21-0 figure that is Serena Williams’. She brings a 48-2 record into the U.S. Open this year, as she has dominated the WTA Tour with her overpowering serve and brilliant return.
He then endured a quarterfinal loss at Roland Garros to compatriot Stan Wawrinka.
Beating Djokovic over five sets, at a grand slam, is likely to prove an altogether more hard task but along with Roger Federer, Murray is one of the few capable of preventing the Serb from claiming a third major title this year.
“I think it’s wonderful, it’s great for tennis“, ESPN commentator Patrick McEnroe said of Williams and Federer.
Instead, he showed up in Cincinnati for his first matches since Wimbledon and was sensational, especially on his serve.
In contrast to the Swiss player’s staying power is Nadal’s swift, brutal decline. That’s nothing unusual for New York.
Defeat to Federer followed in Cincinnati at the semi-final stage, but it was not too troubling for Murray who was afforded some extra rest while also preventing anyone getting too carried away ahead of the US Open.
Google is highlighting the start of the 2015 US Open with its latest doodle on Monday.
“Part of me thinks that it was a good thing I lost (last year’s U.S. Open final)”, Nishikori said. If Murray continues his good form, he could be lifting a third major title on September 13th. The fully operational roof is scheduled to be in place for the 2016 U.S. Open.
The world No1’s build-up to this Open has seen him lose twice in finals, to Federer in Cincinnati and Andy Murray in Montreal, and while Djokovic tends to be tougher in best-of-five matches, it’s hard to see him as the clear-cut favourite for the title. I set myself up for high standards because of the results I’ve had the last couple of years. That has given the appearance any one of the Big Four – except Nadal, who was completely overpowered in Montreal two weeks ago by Kei Nishikori – can win this.
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Since winning five straight in New York – that run ending in 2008 – Federer has only been back to the final once, going down to Juan Martin del Potro the following year. Ranked No. 140 in singles and better known for his doubles play, Herbert’s efforts this week saw him climb into the Top 100 for the first time on Monday after coming through the qualifying draw. He made a mistake. The USTA still is pumping up its young guys emerging from juniors such as Frances Tiafoe, who has an automatic wild card into the main draw after winning the USTA’s 18-and-under. She had undergone surgery on her left Achilles in February and missed more than four months. Defending champion Marin Cilic faces the task of proving he’s not a one Slam wonder.
