Speaking about the women´s draw he said: ´Until when she will be active, it´ll be hard to see Serena Williams not being World No. 1´.
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If Djokovic still has a lot of work to do in order to level Federer or Nadal, for Serena Williams most of the work has already been done as she earlier this summer tied up Steffi Graf’s record of 22 Grand Slam titles in women’s singles.
In her first match she gets a little speed bump on the road to her seventh U.S. Open title and record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title. She’d won the gold at the previous Olympics.
Murray arrives in NY as the man in form after winning his third grand slam title at Wimbledon and following that up by clinching a second singles gold medal at the Olympics. “Novak … the last two years, really, has played incredible tennis”, Murray said. “I’m just hoping that Monday when the tournament starts I’ll be able to get as close to executing my backhand shot as possible”.
Her bid to retain her Olympic singles title ended in Rio de Janeiro when she was sent crashing out of the third round by Elina Svitolina.
After losing in the third round at Wimbledon – his earliest loss at a Major in seven years – Djokovic won a record 30th Masters trophy in Toronto, suffered a shock first-round defeat at the Olympics to Juan Martin del Potro and a withdrew from the Cincinnati Masters with a wrist injury, suggesting all is not well with him.
“I think today I can start the forehand, I think my normal forehand, but it still needs time to feel that I am more confident on my wrist”. “But there is nothing we can do about it”.
“I am in a position, like everybody else, like all of you, we all have private issues and things that are more challenges than issues. That’s all I can do now”.
Serena faces a tricky opening encounter against the experienced Ekaterina Makarova. Of course having that chance means a lot to me, but you have to play a whole year to get that chance.
Angelique Kerber says she is ready to deal with the increasing pressure as she targets US Open glory and the world number one ranking.
Robson said: “It’s a totally different vibe for me now”. After that, it took a bit of time for me to get centered again.
“But then I have to, like, remind myself that: ‘You are Serena Williams!’ ” Williams continued, laughing. She was denied a first calendar Grand Slam in 2015 when she lost to by Roberta Vinci in last September’s semifinals.
Last major of the year, today-Sept.
Other potential contenders on the odds to win the US Open include Milos Raonic (+1200), Stan Wawrinka (+1600), Marin Cilic (+2000), Rafael Nadal (+2000), and Kei Nishikori (+2500).
“There are a lot of good players right now”, Kerber said. “We will see that whenever he plays”.
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“Let’s see what happens in the next two weeks”.
