Looking at the breakdown above, it’s Kerber who has the edge in the race based on how her and Williams did last season in NY.
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Key Statistic II: 186 – Number of consecutive weeks Williams will have spent at No. 1 by the end of the U.S. Open, equaling Graf’s all-time WTA record.
Her run to the semi-finals in NY in 2011 was the catalyst for her rise up the rankings, but it was a trip to see former world number one Steffi Graf in Las Vegas in early 2015 that really did the trick.
While it shapes as an opportunity for those outside the “big four”, it is also a huge chance for Andy Murray. She had to qualify for the US Open previous year, was ranked outside the top 110.
If Williams isn’t at full strength, Kerber is just one of the players poised to pounce.
“I love the question”.
“I’ve had a long summer too”, said Murray, when asked whether the misfortunes of others – and particularly his long-time nemesis Djokovic – might have handed him an opportunity here in NY.
“It’s obvious that we will not be here forever but I think I can play to the level I had before my injury for the next three, four years”. Had Puig remained unseeded, she could have met one of the top players in the first or second round.
Though she won only 3 US Opens during the Open era (1971, 1972 & 1974), her achievement can not be overlooked.
But the Swiss came up against Djokovic in the final and, with the Serbian having seen off 2014 champion Cilic in the semis, he broke the hearts of Federer fans with a 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-4 win. “Hopefully just every day I will keep going higher”, said the American.
“Every year Serena adds to her resume and history in the game, the NY crowds, while she’s never been beloved, I think the appreciation and realization that the fans are looking at an athlete that comes along once in a blue moon”.
“But I thought she’d win Wimbledon and she did”.
“I’ve let a lot of people down”. ‘If you’re not involved in Davis Cup it would make it a lot easier, but with the Davis Cup it’s too much in my opinion’.
French Open champion and world number three Muguruza is also in the hunt.
Now, with a major title under her belt, Kerber feels better equipped to handle the expectations. “She definitely was not 100 per cent physically with her shoulder so I think she made the right choice by not playing in Cincinnati”.
On Friday, Djokovic conceded “it was some other things that I was going through privately”.
“So that creates a little bit of juicy comments. I didn’t feel great when I was there”, he added. The first round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 29.
Murray beat Rosol during a bad-tempered encounter at the Munich Open past year when the Scot shouted to his opponent: “No one likes you on the tour, everyone hates you”.
“It’s still Serena and the rest of the field”, Kerber said smiling.
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Robson is not the only player to be recovering from a wrist injury in NY after Novak Djokovic admitted he is struggling for fitness ahead of his title defence. There are a lot of good players right now.
