Can resurgent Murray dethrone Djokovic?

While the World No 1 Serb looks vulnerable due to a wrist injury and recent losses, the Briton is bullish after recent triumphs in Wimbledon and the Olympics

NEW YORK: Andy Murray is right to point out that doubts over Novak Djokovic’s fitness — leaving aside the Serb’s revelation that his private life has been in turmoil — will have no effect on his own progress through the draw at this US Open.

However, while the two best players in the world are not scheduled to meet until the final, Murray knows, but dare not utter too loudly, that Djokovic is more vulnerable than he has been at any major over the past few years and his elimination would make his grab for a second major this year far easier.

Although he would savour the challenge, there is nobody Murray would less like to play if he were to emerge triumphant than the man who has beaten him 24 times out of 34, including 15 from 19 since the Scot won the final here against him four years ago.

As for Djokovic’s troublesome wrist, Murray sees it this way: “I’ve had a long summer as well. My body is not fresh and my body is not perfect either. I’ve played a lot. “Often it’s been the case at the US Open that guys at this stage of this year are fatigued, especially ones who have been competing for the majors throughout the year. This year is the same and we will see on Monday if Novak’s wrist is fine. I am sure he wouldn’t be risking it if it was bad.

“Also, he is coming in fresh because he has not played loads the last few weeks. My advantage is that I have played a lot of matches and am coming in with the confidence of that knowing that physically I am in good shape. I don’t see this as any more of an opportunity than any of the other slams.” DOUBTS PERSIST However, if the world No1 were to struggle in his opening match against Jerzy Janowicz on Monday because of his injured left wrist, there is a distinct possibility he would consider withdrawing from the tournament. After the draw on Friday, he did not exactly ooze confidence.

Djokovic, who has dipped from his normally stratospheric level since going out in the third round at Wimbledon, knows he is the obvious target for several desperate carnivores on his side of the draw, chiefly Rafael Nadal and the Wimbledon finalist, Milos Raonic.

Yet on Friday he made what seemed to be a howling strategic error when he said that, after electro-magnetic treatment to ease the pain in his wrist, it was tougher for him now to hit backhands. This was either an unwitting invitation to opponents to test him on that wing or he was indulging in the sort of mind games that so spooked Murray in successive Australian Open finals.

Murray is aware that if Nadal were to beat or extend a wounded and uncertain Djokovic in the quarter-finals or Raonic were to finish the job in the semis, that the Spaniard and the Canadian have ambitions of their own. Neither of them would be a pushover. While he did a number on Raonic in the Wimbledon finaland he and Nadal have split a pair of matches on clay this year, Murray pays them the utmost respect.