“Well, I’m 29. I would imagine if I’m lucky I’d be playing at this level for three, four more years, max, I would think”, said Murray.
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Williams can also post her seventh Open title, which would break Chris Evert’s record. “Iwill try to compensate and improvise as much as I can and find the best ways of getting myself ready”. It’s a slightly different mentality to maybe when you’re younger and you feel like you have a bit more time on your side.
“My advantage is that I have played a lot of matches and am coming in with the confidence of knowing that physically I am in good shape”.
Murray is in the form of his life, having reached the final of his last seven tournaments and won four of them – the Rome Masters, the Aegon Championships at Queen’s Club, Wimbledon and the Olympics.
After equaling Steffi Graf for the most Grand Slam titles in the professional era (which dates to 1968) by winning Wimbledon last month, Williams now can break that tie by earning No. 23 in NY.
So while the stakes are different from what they were at Flushing Meadows in 2015, Williams does have something significant to play for yet again. “I have not played a lot and practiced a lot”.
Halep, the No. 5 player in the world, has had a strong year as well.
Murray had beaten Djokovic on his way to Olympic gold and once again came out on top in the United States final, delayed due to extreme weather, although he had to overcome a major scare to triumph 7-6 (12-10) 7-5 2-6 3-6 6-2.
If world rankings and seedings go to plan Murray would then face Marcel Granollers, Gilles Simon and Feliciano Lopez before a quarter-final meeting with Kei Nishikori and a semi-final against Stan Wawrinka.
Djokovic has been drawn against Jerzy Janowicz, while Nadal is up against Denis Istomin.
Djokovic, meanwhile, has had a decidedly mixed summer.
Murray will begin his bid for a fourth Grand Slam title Tuesday against Lukos Rosol. The Serb still has a healthy lead but has a lot of ranking points to defend between now and the end of the year, which means it is not inconceivable that Murray will soon have the top spot in his sights.
Djokovic has not looked like his usual dominant self in recent months, losing in the early rounds at Wimbledon and the Rio Games, while a wrist injury has hampered his preparations. He said he was dealing with “more or less the same injury” that has seriously disrupted Del Potro’s career in recent years.
“Private issues” derailed him at Wimbledon and he developed a problem in his left wrist which contributed to his first-round exit in Rio and has restricted him to just six singles matches since SW19. It’s been a tough couple of years for him.
“So I just need to – I’m actually using that as a positive that, you know, you have to make the most of every opportunity”.
Novak Djokovic has admitted he was battling personal issues when he was knocked out of Wimbledon in the third round after a shock defeat by Sam Querrey.
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“After undergoing certain treatments I’ve gotten better”, Djokovic said. It happened right there.
