Rafael Nadal shared some unfortunate but true news on Friday at the US Open.

“The Big Four,” he said, “are getting older.”

At 30, 29, 29, and 35, respectively, Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Roger Federer are getting older. But they, including Nadal, still have found ways to dominate the game’s biggest tournaments, including ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events and Grand Slam championships.

Since 2010, the Big Four have won 54 of the 59 Masters 1000 crowns and 24 of the 27 Grand Slam championships. In New York, Nadal said he feels ready to do his part to add another Grand Slam championship to the Big Four’s collective resume.

“It’s obvious that we will not be here forever. It’s true that Andy and Novak today are creating distance from the rest,” Nadal said. “Let’s see. I am excited about this part of the season.”

The final stop on the U.S. hard-court swing has traditionally been favourable to Nadal, the fourth seed in New York this year. The two-time US Open champion (2010, 2013) also finished as a finalist in 2011 and reached the last four in 2008 and 2009. “I’m very excited to play here,” Nadal said.

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The tournament will mark his first Grand Slam championship and only third overall tournament since withdrawing from Roland Garros on 27 May because of a left wrist injury. The 30 year old was set to challenge for his 10^th title in Paris before missing his third-round match and the next two and a half months.

“I had been playing great before the injury,” said Nadal, who won Monte-Carlo and Barcelona on clay before Roland Garros. “I have been playing at a very high level…. I think I am practising well.”

Read More: Nadal: ‘I Need To Keep Competing’

The left-hander returned to the ATP World Tour earlier this month at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, where he beat World No. 19 Pablos Cuevas in straight sets before falling to #NextGen star Borna Coric in the third round.

“I am better. I am a little bit better. It’s obvious that when you have been [out] two months and a half you need a little bit of time,” Nadal said of his wrist. “It’s true that the wrist bothers me a little bit less every day.”

He will open his 12^th US Open against Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin, who reached the fourth round in New York in 2012 but is 7-20 this season.

Big changes in the beginning of 2016 summoned a big season for Andy Murray so far, one that puts him in a position to become just the fourth player in the Open Era – Rod Laver (‘69’), Roger Federer (’06-’07, ’09) and Novak Djokovic (’15) – to reach all four major finals in the same year. 

Also, should Murray hoist the US Open trophy in two weeks’ time, the second seed and 2012 champion will move to first place in the Emirates ATP Race to London, unless Djokovic is the man he beats in the final.

“I had, after the Australian Open, quite a big change in my life,” said Murray, whose daughter, Sophia Olivia, was born 7 February. “Becoming a father for the first time – [that’s] the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

“Tennis isn’t the most important thing in my life anymore. Probably when I was younger and didn’t have a family, then it was the most important thing. I think having that different perspective helps a lot. Maybe [I’m] not putting so much pressure on myself and before a match I’m not stressing as much as I used to.”

Murray’s fresh perspective seems to be working in his favour. The Dunblane native started the year strongly with a runner-up showing in Melbourne and maintained his momentum. Murray’s 2016 record is 50-7 and he’s added four more trophies to his cabinet, including titles at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 in Rome, Queen’s Club, Wimbledon and a gold medal in Rio.

“I would imagine if I’m lucky I’d be playing at this level for three, four more years, max,” Murray, age 29, laughed, “I hope I’m still playing like this when I’m 38 years old.”

Coming off a final showing at the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati (l. to Cilic), Murray looks to put last year’s US Open result (l. to Anderson in the fourth round) far behind him. In the same half as Stan Wawrinka, the Scot opens his campaign this year against Czech Lukas Rosol, who he’s met twice before (Murray leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry 2-0).

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Despite an up-and-down past few months by his standards, top seed Novak Djokovic said he still feels like he’s at the top of his game and that he’s ready to defend his US Open title in New York starting next week.

The two-time US Open champion (2011, 2015) will look to secure his third Grand Slam championship of the season and his 13^th career major title. His third championship in New York would bring him one title closer to all-time ATP World Tour greats Rafael Nadal, this year’s fourth seed, and Pete Sampras. Another New York crown would also give Djokovic his 48^th “Big Title”, helping him pass Federer as the No. 1 “Big Title” King.

“I obviously had a phenomenal Grand Slam career that I’m very proud of and very grateful for. I’m 29 at the moment and believe that I’m at a peak of my abilities as a tennis player. I’ll try to keep that peak as consistent and enduring as much as possible,” Djokovic said. “It’s a privilege to be mentioned alongside all the legends of the sport that have won ten-plus Grand Slams and made history books.”

The Belgrade native will look to return to his customary Grand Slam championship dominance after his Wimbledon hiccup earlier this season. Djokovic’s third-round loss at SW19 to American Sam Querrey was his earliest defeat at a Grand Slam championship since 2009. It also snapped Djokovic’s 30-match Grand Slam championship winning streak, the best of the Open Era.

“I’ve been very fortunate to play on a very high, consistent level at Grand Slams,” Djokovic said. “The third-round loss… allowed me to reflect on things and allowed me to take some time and really regroup.”

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The Serbian more than bounced back, though. He didn’t drop a set en route to his record 30^th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title at the Rogers Cup in Toronto (d. Nishikori).

“I’ve had a phenomenal season – definitely rank this season one of the best that I’ve had in [my] career,” said Djokovic, who is 51-5 this season.

During recent weeks, he said his left wrist has started to bother him but that he’s feeling better and confident heading into the US Open. He has reached at least the semi-finals in Flushing Meadows the past nine years.

Djokovic Through The Years At The US Open

Kei Nishikori is riding major momentum into this year’s US Open. The World No. 7 reached the final at the Rogers Cup in Toronto (l. to Djokovic), a result which helped him clinch the 2016 US Open Series men’s title. 

“I think I have been playing well this summer,” said Nishikori in his pre-tournament press conference on Friday ahead of the US Open. “I took a couple of days off after Cincinnati, and physically I’m feeling good.

“If I can carry that confidence from the summer I think I will have a good chance to go further these two weeks.”

Two years ago at the US Open was Nishikori’s Grand Slam breakthrough. The Japanese star barrelled his way through the draw, defeating Milos Raonic (fourth round), Stan Wawrinka (quarter-finals) and World No. 1 Novak Djokovic (semi-finals) en route to the championship match. Making history by becoming the first Asian man ever to play for the title at a Grand Slam, Nishikori’s quest was halted by Marin Cilic in straight sets.

“I have great memories,” he said. “Things changed a lot also for me… I think I’m a little more patient and playing much better than last year, two years ago.”

The 26 year old from Japan will look to erase memories of last year’s US Open campaign. He was ousted in the first round by then-World No. 41 Benoit Paire in five sets. This year, as the sixth seed, he opens his campaign against Germany’s Benjamin Becker. 

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“He has a great serve, [he’s an] aggressive player,” said Nishikori, who leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head record 2-1. “[It’s] not going to be easy, but I hope I can have great preparation these few days and [be] ready for Monday.”

Novak Djokovic could have a tricky start to defending his US Open championship, and it won’t get any easier later for the Serbian in New York, where main draw play starts on Monday.

The top seed and two-time champion (2011, 2015) will open against former World No. 14 and 2013 Wimbledon semi-finalist Jerzy Janowicz. In the second round, Djokovic could face one of the five players to gain a win against him this season: Czech Jiri Vesely, who beat Djokovic in the second round at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters in April.

From there, the Belgrade native could meet 28^th seed Martin Klizan for the third time. Djokovic beat the Slovakian twice on hard courts last season.

If the seeds maintain, Frenchman Richard Gasquet, 13^th seed, or 20^th seed John Isner could challenge the Serbian in the fourth round. But both players have enticing first-round contests: Isner plays American wild card Frances Tiafoe; Gasquet meets #NextGen star Kyle Edmund of Britain. Another all-American, first-round clash will take place in the same quarter when 26^th seed Jack Sock meets #NextGen star Taylor Fritz.

Read More: Roddick, Blake, Courier Optimistic About American Prospects

Croatian Marin Cilic, 2014 US Open champion, could meet Djokovic in the quarter-finals. Seventh seed Cilic heads to New York playing some of his best tennis since he captured his first Grand Slam championship two years ago. The 6’6” right-hander beat Andy Murray last week in Cincinnati to take his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title.

In the semi-finals, fans could see the 50^th installment of Djokovic v. Rafael Nadal. The 29-year-old right-hander has won their past seven encounters.

Fourth seed Nadal debuts against Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin and could face Frenchman Stephane Robert or Italian Andreas Seppi in the second round. The Spaniard’s first seeded opponent could be countryman Albert Ramos-Vinolas, the 31^st seed, in the third round. Another Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, the 15^th seed, or 24^th seed Lucas Pouille of France might meet Nadal in the fourth round.

Tenth seed Gael Monfils or fifth seed Milos Raonic could battle Nadal in the last eight. Both Monfils and Raonic open against hard-charging, big servers: Monfils plays Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller; Raonic plays Germany’s Dustin Brown.

On the other half of the draw, second seed Andy Murray, 2012 US Open champion, opens against the Czech Lukas Rosol and could meet Spaniard Marcel Granollers or Argentine Juan Monaco in the second round.

The Brit’s first seeded opponent could be 30^th seed Gilles Simon in the third round. Murray leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 14-2. Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, 16^th seed, or 22^nd seed Grigor Dimitrov might meet Murray in the fourth round. This year’s Emirates US Open Series champion Kei Nishikori could greet Murray in the last eight.

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Awaiting Murray in the semi-finals could be third seed Stan Wawrinka, but the Swiss will have to fight past a difficult early stretch. He opens against World No. 47 Fernando Verdasco, who beat Wawrinka on grass at the Aegon Championships in June. American Denis Kudla or a qualifier will await in the second round, and Wawrinka might have to face #NextGen star Alexander Zverev in the third round. Aussie Nick Kyrgios, the 14^th seed, or 17^th seed Bernard Tomic could await in the fourth round. If the seeds play out, eighth seed Dominic Thiem would be Wawrinka’s quarter-final opponent.

Juan Martin del Potro, 2009 US Open champion, returns to New York by wild card and debuts against fellow Argentine Diego Schwartzman. Del Potro could meet 19^th seed and top American Steve Johnson in the second round. Spanish veteran David Ferrer, the 11^th seed, could await in the third round before del Potro might face Thiem in the Round of 16.