The last time Andy Murray competed in singles at a Grand Slam was at last year’s Australian Open, where a lot of the talk revolved around the former World No. 1 potentially retiring. The Brit says he hasn’t played in a major without worrying about his body since 2017 Roland Garros.

That makes next week’s US Open even more exciting for the 33-year-old, who has had two hip surgeries over the past two years.

“I’m not as quick probably as I was before, but I’m able to go out there and compete and focus on the tennis. Hopefully [I will] be able to last a five-set match without my performance seriously deteriorating as it goes on,” Murray said. “It’s been tough to get to this point, a lot of hard work, lots of ups and downs. But I made it back.”

Murray has enjoyed success at the American Grand Slam, triumphing in Flushing Meadows in 2012. When he last competed at the US Open, in 2018, he wasn’t healthy. But after advancing to the third round of this week’s Western & Southern Open, he believes he doesn’t need to think about his body.

“In the matches I played… I felt pretty good on the court in terms of my body,” Murray said. “The matches were still difficult and stressful, [but it was] still enjoyable to be out there competing because my body was actually feeling okay. Hopefully that will be the case again next week.”

It’s been an emotional journey for Murray, who tried not to think about his hip being metal and all he went through to get back on court.

“Physically right now I feel pretty good, so I’m really happy about that because it’s allowing me to practise and prepare properly, enjoy my time on the court basically,” Murray said. “I think mentally it’s going to be difficult for the players. Obviously Novak won the tournament this week. There’s people saying that some of the players will find it challenging playing without fans.”

There are no fans allowed at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Murray believes a key for success at the season’s second Grand Slam will be maintaining focus.

“It is difficult, but the level of tennis is what’s important. If you can sort of block all of the weirdness of playing without a crowd on big stadiums [that will be key],” Murray said. “I actually felt okay doing that last week. It didn’t feel too bad in the matches. It will be tricky.”

Murray plays his first-round match inside Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday against Yoshihito Nishioka. Normally, there would be about 23,000 people in the stands.

“I played in some of the best atmospheres that I’ve ever played in tennis on that court. To go out there in such a huge stadium and have literally no one in the stands is going to be weird,” Murray said. “I know that’s going to be the case, so at least I can prepare for it mentally.”

One thing Murray noted is how “sad” it has been walking back to the locker room after practice. Normally, he’d be mobbed by adoring fans seeking an autograph or selfie. During this stretch, all he has seen are tennis players and their team members “walking around with masks on”.

“[Fans] give life to the tournaments and everything. They give life to your matches and your practices. Sometimes it can be a bit hectic, as well,” Murray said. “On the whole, I’d way rather this place was filled with people that are excited to come and watch tennis. I miss that.”

The 46-time tour-level titlist is “pumped” nonetheless. He showed form last week by beating 2018 Nitto ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev. Now, Murray will try to maintain his momentum.

“It’s different,” Murray said. “But I’m just looking forward to getting to compete in a Slam again.”

The most dangerous situation in tennis right now is Novak Djokovic with his back against the wall.

The World No. 1 had just lost eight of the first nine points of the third set to trail 0-2 against Milos Raonic in Saturday’s Western & Southern Open final.

He had the Canadian right where he wanted him…

Djokovic rattled off 11 of the next 12 points as he broke Raonic twice in a row and stormed to a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory that seemed highly improbable after a sluggish opening set and perilously falling behind a break to begin the third.

How does the Super Serbian do it? By swinging freely and peppering winners? By switching strategies and adjusting baseline patterns? The answer cuts to the core of why Djokovic currently dominates men’s tennis and will inevitably soon pass Pete Sampras to become second all-time with weeks at No. 1 in the FedEx ATP Rankings.

No. Free. Points.

When Djokovic turns the screws and his eyes enlarge like saucers when he is about to return serve, you can absolutely count on the ball coming back into play again and again and again. The conversation revolving around who would win the final started and ended with Djokovic’s fortunes being able to break Raonic, who had only dropped serve twice en route to the final.

An analysis of the three service games where Djokovic broke Raonic provides a snapshot of how Djokovic goes about his business when push comes to shove in the match.

Analysis: Raonic’s Three Broken Service Games
Raonic played 18 points in the three service games at 2-3 in the second set, 2-0 in the third set and 2-2 in the third set. He only won five points, with Djokovic winning seven consecutive return points in the third set from 0-2, 0/0 to 2-2, 0/40.

Djokovic ramped up the mental pressure on Raonic’s serve, causing it to miss more when he needed it most.

Raonic First-Serve Percentage
• Set 1 = 68%
• Set 2 = 67%
• Set 3 = 60%
• Three Broken Service Games = 50%

The pressure of the ball repeatedly coming back into play in the big moments forced Raonic to go for a little more, which in turn directly affected his first-serve percentage. Djokovic only missed three returns in the three games, breaking Raonic on the first Deuce point in set two, breaking him to love at 0-2 in the third set, and breaking him to 15 in the Canadian’s very next service game.

There were four ways a point ended in the three broken service games, and Raonic’s errors (10) totaled more than all three other outcomes combined.

Raonic’s Three Broken Service Games: End Of The Point
• Raonic winners = 2 points
• Raonic errors = 10 points
• Djokovic winners = 2 points
• Djokovic errors = 4 points

The average rally length in the three broken games was 3.7 shots. Raonic only won 33 per cent (3/9) behind his first serve and 22 per cent (2/9) behind his second serve. In the driver’s seat at 6-1, 2-3, Raonic started his service game with a double fault. It was a small crack that Djokovic pried wide open to break serve seven points later and sink his teeth into the match.

It’s important to note that Djokovic hit two winners from 18 points in the three games he broke Raonic. Winners are not the secret sauce of Djokovic’s current reign as the best player on the planet. Putting the ball back in play on any court against any opponent on any continent certainly is.

You don’t lose if you don’t miss.

It all comes down to this. Carlos Alcaraz will compete for his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title on Sunday, in Trieste, Italy.

The 17-year-old Spaniard is continuing to make a name for himself on the clay of Trieste, streaking to the championship match from qualifying. A high-octane 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 win over fellow teen Lorenzo Musetti gave him his sixth victory in eight days.

Alcaraz, who crashed onto the scene in February with a breakthrough ATP Tour debut in Rio de Janeiro, is one of the fastest-rising teens in professional tennis. The Juan Carlos Ferrero pupil is projected to rise more than 50 spots this week to crack the Top 300 of the FedEx ATP Rankings.

Watch Trieste Final On Sunday (10am CET)

With a full arsenal of weapons from the baseline, as well as a lethal drop shot and impressive agility, Alcaraz is already taking the Challenger circuit by storm. And he’s making history along the way…

Fast Facts

• Carlos is the first player born in the year 2003 to reach a Challenger final.

• Carlos is the youngest player to reach a Challenger final since Felix Auger-Aliassime in Sevilla in 2017.

• Only one other Spaniard has reached a final at a younger age: Rafael Nadal. Nadal advanced to six finals in 2003 at the ages of 16 & 17.

• Carlos is one of just five 17-year-olds from Spain to reach a Challenger final, joining Nadal, Nicola Kuhn, Nicolas Almagro and Tommy Robredo. Kuhn was just one day older when he lifted his first trophy in Braunschweig in 2017.

• Carlos is the second teenager to reach a Challenger final this year. Tomas Machac, aged 19 from the Czech Republic, won the title in Koblenz, Germany, in February.

Youngest Spanish Finalists On ATP Challenger Tour