Reigning US Open men’s champion Novak Djokovic has had turbulent times recently.
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Troubled by injury and a private matter that affected him at Wimbledon, world No.1 Novak Djokovic concedes that time is against him as he prepares to end his grand slam season on a high at the US Open.
Williams is a strong favorite to win the year’s final major of the year for a seventh time.
Murray’s consistency on the tour in recent weeks is in stark contrast to the rollercoaster fortunes of Djokovic, the defending champion in NY.
At 29, three-time major victor Murray admits he is taking positives from being in the twilight of his career.
Olympic gold medallist and Wimbledon champion Andy Murray of Britain, who clinched his first-ever Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2012, will face the Czech Republic’s Lukas Rosol.
Murray had beaten Djokovic on his way to Olympic gold and once again came out on top in the USA 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.
Williams is the world’s No. 1 player and top seed at Flushing Meadows.
The hard-serving American has only played seven tournaments this year, with a third-round exit from the Rio Olympic singles and a first-round elimination from the Rio doubles with sister Venus her only tournament action since Wimbledon. Ahead of Monday’s start to the US Open, the 29-year-old is the sport’s man of the moment.
None of World No.3 Stan Wawrinka, No.6 Milos Raonic, No.7 Kei Nishikori, Cilic, the 2014 champion and 2009 victor del Potro, the runner-up at the Olympics, should be discounted.
Now, for the first time in months, the defending US Open champion has opened up about his issues.
Williams said “shoulder-wise” she is improving but admits the lack of match practice has been far from ideal. Then she went to the Olympics and suffered an uncharacteristic third-round loss to No. 20 Elina Svitolina, 6-4, 6-3. Rafael Nadal is struggling for form and has encountered injury problems of his own, while Roger Federer will not participate in the tournament.
And there was an unexpected victor in the men’s side of the draw.
Rounding out the women’s draw, second seed Angelique Kerber, who almost unseated Williams as world number one but lost in the Cincinnati final, appears to have a comfortable early path.
Fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland also has an outside chance at the world number one ranking if she can claim her first Grand Slam title.
Jankovic was runner-up at the 2008 US Open, Safina made the finals of the 2008 Australian Open and 2008 and 2009 French Opens. Although the Italian Pennetta won’t be taking court as she announced her retirement after the Grand Slam got over in a surprise move.
His win at the French Open in June allowed him to join Federer and Nadal as one of the few men to complete the career Grand Slam of all four majors.
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Murray has won his last two major competitions, at the Olympics and Wimbledon.
