Nadal began his preparations for the first Grand Slam tournament of the year at the Australian Open, which the Spaniard has won once in his career back in 2009.
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It would also see her set a new open era record of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, as she is now tied with German Steffi Graf on 22, after beating Germany’s Angelique Kerber in the Wimbledon final in July. In her last outing, a third-round loss to Elina Svitolina in the Olympics, her serve deserted her much as it did against Makarova in Melbourne 4 1/2 years ago.
“She will feel so much less pressure than past year, also because she won Wimbledon and has at least tied Graf”, Shriver said. Like, you’re awesome.’ That really just shows the human side of me. If No. 2 Angeliquie Kerber of Germany reaches the quarter-finals, Williams would need to make the final to have a shot at remaining No. 1. “He’s always been a very close person to me”.
Andy Murray winning the US Open could prove a turning point in his rivalry with Novak Djokovic, says former British number one Greg Rusedski. “But there is nothing we can do about it”. You just have to make the best of every single opportunity. “That’s all I can do now”.
Despite the fuss, Serena Williams remains the strong favourite by 67-33 percent among the votes to beat Makarova in the first round.
Since the latter loss Kerber has suffered disappointment in two more finals, losing to Monica Puig in the gold medal match at the Olympics and to Karolina Pliskova in the final in Cincinnati, when victory would have seen her take the world No 1 spot.
“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”.
“I don’t answer those questions”, flatly stated Williams, who will next face American wild card Vania King, a 7-6 (2) 6-3 victor over Germany qualifier Antonia Lottner.
“I see him really challenging Djokovic’s supremacy in the next few Grand Slams”, Becker said.
Djokovic was there for the taking for Janowicz, the Polish world number 247 who was once ranked 14th before injuries took their toll. Just getting out there and trying to play perfectly. Turning around her Flushing Meadows fortunes would further her aim of establishing herself as more than “the girl that beat Serena” at Roland Garros.
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Notable absentees include 2015 champion Flavia Pennetta, who retired at the end of previous year, Victoria Azarenka who is pregnant and former champion Maria Sharapova who is serving a doping suspension. The younger McEnroe brother attained a career-high of world No 26 and never made a Grand Slam singles final, but like his older brother, he’s never short of an opinion and will air them on ESPN during the US Open.
