The second-ranked Scot, who has lost just twice since early May, is favoured by some to dethrone an ailing Novak Djokovic next week and win a second U.S. Open title, though the Serbian top seed remains the favourite with bookmakers.
Advertisement
Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber of Germany drew the second seed and will face Slovakia’s Polona Hercog in her first match. Then she got bounced in the semifinals by Roberta Vinci, a loss that is still inexplicable.
Things haven’t been rosy since.
Rafael Nadal insists his wrist injury is slowly improving as he prepares for the U.S. Open first round.
“I don’t think very many people have that characteristic, and seeing that so much is probably one of the biggest reasons why she’s done what she’s done”, said Keys, who just like Williams has a hugely powerful serve and aggressive game style.
“I’d imagine I’d be playing at this level for three, four more years, max”, said Murray, the holder of three Grand Slam titles. “And it’s those moments that I have to just, like, come off and be like, ‘Serena, do you know what you’ve done? That’s all I can do now”.
Her preparation raises question marks about the 34-year-old’s form heading into Flushing Meadows, where she is hoping to overtake Steffi Graf’s Open era record 22 major titles.
“The biggest thing that I’m always very impressed with is her fire, she’s No. 1 in the world, she’s won all these grand slams, but she always wants more”, Keys told CNN ahead of the NY tournament, where she will be the eighth seed when the two-week event starts Monday.
Not necessarily a big deal to her that she’s spent the past 3½ years entrenched at No. 1 and is the oldest woman ever to top the WTA rankings. Will she catch a rusty and tired Williams at just the right time?
“I’m doing everything in my power.to make sure that I’m as close to 100 percent as possible”, Djokovic told reporters, saying he hurt his wrist in Rio a few days before the start of the Olympic tournament, where he lost in the first round.
Not that Williams was immediately ready to think about topping Graf after pulling even with her at the All England Club. “I try to look at it as we always have tough matches”. Kerber starts the tournament with a 480 points advantage over Williams and a dream draw.
Djokovic, the world’s top-ranked player, is still battling a wrist injury just days out from his first-round clash with Jerzy Janowicz.
Fourth seed Nadal, a gold medallist at the Olympics in doubles after missing Wimbledon due to a left wrist injury, faces Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan in his first round match.
Being viewed as a legitimate threat to Williams, Kerber said, “is really special”.
“There are different methods of healing that I’m considering and consulting”, Djokovic said.
Keys was guided by former Wimbledon victor Lindsay Davenport during her breakout season in 2015.
The 12-time major champ also said his issues at Wimbledon weren’t physical, but “there were other things I was going through”.
Laughter ensued. It’s still Serena Williams, the No. 1 player in the world.
Advertisement
Stephens out. American Sloane Stephens has withdrawn from the U.S. Open because of a right foot injury. Stephens reached the fourth round in 2013.
