“I don’t know how he’s feeling”, Murray said. I think Novak is still obviously the most obvious obstacle. “I definitely feel like when I lose, I don’t feel as good about myself”. Same with coming here to NY.
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The 28-year-old German, who won her first grand-slam title in Melbourne at the start of the year, lacked belief in the early part of her career. Then she got bounced in the semifinals by Roberta Vinci, a loss that is still inexplicable.
Robson has been ravaged by fitness issues over the last two years but she continued her recent revival against Maria with a 7-6 (7/5) 6-1 victory. “But I’m No. 7, so of course I have a lot of pressure”.
“There are a couple of players that if they do really well and whatever the situations are, they can reach number one”.
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. Kerber, who opens against Polona Hercog of Slovenia, is seeded for a quarters clash against seventh seed Roberta Vinci of Italy, who shocked Williams in last year’s Open semi-finals.
“That’s going to be a test for Serena”, Chrissie Evert said. “She’s just a unsafe first-round player so that’s interesting”.
Shriver believes the support of a home crowd can drive Williams, who plays Ekaterina Makarova in the first round on Monday, on as she attempts to regain her crown.
The 34-year-old United States superstar matched Steffi Graf’s Open Era record of 22 Grand Slam singles titles with her triumph at Wimbledon in July. Only Margaret Court owns more major singles trophies, with 24, but more than half of that total came against amateur competition.
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.
Angelique Kerber is thrilled at the prospect of usurping Serena Williams to become world number one – but says she is trying her best not to think about it.
Asked when her shoulder problems began, Williams replied: “Ironically enough, the day after the finals of Wimbledon”.
Outside of the top two, five-time champion Roger Federer, who has played every US Open since 2000, called time on his season after a five-set semi-final defeat to Raonic at Wimbledon.
Serena is again seeded No. 1 in NY for the 2016 Open.
Stephens out. American Sloane Stephens has withdrawn from the U.S. Open because of a right foot injury.
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“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. “Them having wrist problems doesn’t affect my chances of getting to the final as I wouldn’t have to play them in that stage anyway”, Murray said.
