Can Andy Murray add to summer haul with US Open glory?
ANDY MURRAY has written off suggestions that this US Open is his best opportunity ever to win a Grand Slam, given the relative slump in the form of Novak Djokovic. The 29 year-old Scot, who will attempt to reach all four Major finals in the same calendar year, is sceptical about the extent of Djokovic’s wrist injury, and points out that the Serb comes into the tournament much better rested. Asked if he was favourite Murray responded: ‘I don’t think so. 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 of tennis and played a lot of matches. ‘I think often it’s been the case at the US Open that guys at this stage of this year are fatigued, especially ones that have been competing for the majors throughout the year. ‘This year is the same and with Novak we will see on Monday if his wrist is fine. I am sure he wouldn’t be risking it if it was bad. 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, to be honest.’ Murray has been reunited with his daughter Sophia after three weeks’ apart, the longest spell since she was born six months ago, and catching up with the changes has been a relaxing distraction.
Over the next fortnight he is aiming to become only the sixth man in tennis history to make all four Major finals, emulating Jack Crawford, Donald Budge, Rod Laver, Roger Federer and Djokovic.
On the subject of Laver and a congested workload, Murray’s has given a lukewarm response to the idea of the Laver Cup, the Europe v Rest of the World team event being promoted by Roger Federer’s management company and Tennis Australia.
‘I have given it some thought, chatted a bit about it, but the timing is tricky,’ he said of the event to be held in Prague a year next month. ‘ It would be the US Open and then the following week is Davis Cup and then the following weekend would be that.
‘If you’re not involved in Davis Cup it would make it a lot easier, but with the Davis Cup it’s too much in my opinion.’