Nadal and Djokovic are expected to be the biggest threats to Murray’s US Open crown this year. PHOTO: AFP
Once the hunter, now the hunted, Andy Murray is braced for an all-out assault on his US Open title from rejuvenated Rafael Nadal and world number one Novak Djokovic.
Murray ended Britain’s 76-year wait for a Grand Slam men’s champion by triumphing in New York in 2012 and backed it up with his historic Wimbledon victory this year, the first by a British man since Fred Perry in 1936.
The Scot beat Djokovic to win the US Open 12 months ago and repeated the dose against the Serb at the All England Club six weeks ago.
But it is Nadal, rather than Djokovic, who is tipped to win a second title in New York, to add to his 2010 victory, and clinch a 13th career major.
The 27-year-old Spaniard missed the 2012 tournament as he rested his troublesome knees, part of a seven-month injury lay-off which stretched from the second round at Wimbledon to Vina del Mar in Chile in February.
Since his return, Nadal has racked up nine titles, including five Masters, and boasts a win-loss record of 53-3. His only blip was a first-round trauma at Wimbledon.
Nadal’s title in Cincinnati last weekend followed victory in Montreal.
“It’s a nice feeling to arrive to the US Open with two victories in two very difficult tournaments,” said Nadal.
“And it is nice to arrive there knowing that, if I am able to keep continuing, keep playing like this, hopefully, I have the chance to have a good result.”
Meanwhile, Djokovic heads for New York with the focus squarely on Nadal as well as the worrying decline of Roger Federer.
The 26-year-old has made the US Open final in each of the last three years and is desperate to put behind him his quarter-final loss to John Isner in Cincinnati, a performance he described as ‘terrible’.
Djokovic, the 2011 US Open winner, is also keen to play down talk of how he and Murray now hold the keys to the Grand Slam door.
“Hopefully that rivalry can develop over the years, but it’s still not the biggest rivalry we have in sports,” said Djokovic. “Out of all the active players, it’s Federer and Nadal.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 22nd, 2013.
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