Serbian will try to win his third title in New York
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 13th 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 48th “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 30th 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
| Year | Result | Opponent |
| 2015 | Champion | d. Federer |
| 2014 | SF | l. to Nishikori |
| 2013 | Finalist | l. to Nadal |
| 2012 | Finalist | l. to Murray |
| 2011 | Champion | d. Nadal |
| 2010 | Finalist | l. to Nadal |
| 2009 | SF | l. to Federer |
| 2008 | SF | l. to Federer |
| 2007 | Finalist | l. to Federer |
| 2006 | 3R | l. to Hewitt |
| 2005 | 3R | l. to Verdasco |
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.”
Murray could face Nishikori in last eight
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 28th seed Martin Klizan for the third time. Djokovic beat the Slovakian twice on hard courts last season.
If the seeds maintain, Frenchman Richard Gasquet, 13th seed, or 20th 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 26th 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 50th 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 31st seed, in the third round. Another Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, the 15th seed, or 24th 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 30th seed Gilles Simon in the third round. Murray leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 14-2. Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, 16th seed, or 22nd 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.
Read More: Nishikori Claims Bonus Challenge
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 14th seed, or 17th 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 19th seed and top American Steve Johnson in the second round. Spanish veteran David Ferrer, the 11th seed, could await in the third round before del Potro might face Thiem in the Round of 16.
| US Open |
|---|
| Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 29 August – 11 September |
| Coverage: Live radio commentary on Radio 5 live sports extra plus live text coverage on selected matches on the BBC Sport website and app. |
Olympic champion Andy Murray will meet Czech Lukas Rosol in the first round of the US Open, which starts on Monday.
The British second seed, 29, beat world number 82 Rosol 4-6 6-3 6-2 in a heated match at the Munich Open last year.
British number two Dan Evans faces American Rajeev Ram, while Kyle Edmund will play France’s Richard Gasquet.
Briton Johanna Konta, seeded a career-high 13th in the women’s singles, meets American Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who won mixed double gold at the Rio Olympics.
Rosol, 31, shocked Rafael Nadal in the second round at Wimbledon in 2012.
Top seed and world number one Novak Djokovic begins the defence of his men’s title against world number 120 Jerzy Janowicz, while Spaniard Nadal, the 2010 and 2013 champion, meets Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan.
Olympic silver medallist Juan Martin del Potro has been drawn against fellow Argentine Diego Schwartzman.
Women’s world number one Serena Williams, a beaten semi-finalist last year, begins her campaign against Russian Ekaterina Makarova, while Britons Heather Watson and Naomi Brody will play qualifiers.
Compatriot Laura Robson will join them in the main draw if she wins her final qualifier against Germany’s Tatjana Maria on Friday at about 20:30 BST.
Williams is aiming for a seventh US Open title and a record 23rd Grand Slam singles title in the Open era.
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Djokovic said he hopes to be close to full fitness for the start of the tournament, but admitted his left wrist has not healed fully.
He first felt pain in his wrist in the week before the Rio Olympics, where he lost in the opening round to Del Potro.
“I’m doing everything in my power to make sure that I’m as close to 100% as possible during the course of this tournament,” said the 29-year-old.
“I’m just hoping that when the tournament starts I’ll be able to get as close to the maximum of executing my backhand shot as possible.”
Djokovic also said he was dealing with “private issues” when he lost to Sam Querrey in the third round at Wimbledon this year, but that those issues have now been resolved.
He added: “I am in a position, like everybody else, like all of you.
“We all have private issues and things that are more challenges than issues, more things that we have to encounter and overcome in order to evolve as a human being.”
BBC Sport tennis correspondent Russell Fuller:
“Rosol is the man who beat Rafael Nadal on Wimbledon’s Centre Court in 2012, and was told by Murray that “nobody likes you” after the Czech bumped into him while changing ends at an event in Munich last year.
“Murray could face Kei Nishikori in the last eight and Stan Wawrinka – or even Juan Martin del Potro – in the semi-finals, while chief rival Djokovic, still troubled by a left wrist injury, could play Marin Cilic and Rafael Nadal at the same stages.
“It would be wrong to describe Djokovic as an unknown quantity at this US Open. He is the defending champion and has a sensational record on hard courts, but he has had an emotional few months after completing the career Grand Slam at Roland Garros.”
Andy Murray should be favourite for the final tennis major of the year, the US Open, according to Greg Rusedski.
The Scot is seeded second behind Novak Djokovic for next week’s event at Flushing Meadows.
But former British number one Rusedski believes the Serb’s form does not live up to his ranking.
“I would say he is slightly the second favourite,” he said. “If you look at his form, he lost in the third round of Wimbledon and Olympics first round.”
Murray won his second Wimbledon title and went on to win a second successive Olympic gold in the singles in Rio.
Rusedski also believes the return of Ivan Lendl as the British number one’s coach is having an effect on Djokovic.
“It’s just a bit of doubt creeping possibly into his mind,” he told BBC Scotland.
“If you look at Murray when Lendl is in his corner, he seems to win majors. Before Lendl, there was no majors. After Lendl, there was no majors.
“All of a sudden, when Ivan comes back, Murray wins Wimbledon again.”
Japanese star will play for biggest payout in tennis history
World No. 7 and 2014 US Open finalist Kei Nishikori clinched the 2016 Emirates US Open Series men’s title on Thursday, following Viktor Troicki’s victory over Fernando Verdasco in the quarter-finals of the Winston-Salem Open. Nishikori will now attempt to to claim the largest payout in tennis history at the US Open – $4.5 million; $3.5 million for winning the US Open and a $1 million bonus for winning the US Open as Emirates Airline US Open Series champion.
Nishikori finishes the Bonus Challenge with 85 points – 70 for reaching the Rogers Cup final in Toronto and 15 for advancing to the Round of 16 at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. Verdasco was the only remaining player in Winston-Salem who could have overtaken him in the final standings.
Grigor Dimitrov finishes second in the men’s Bonus Challenge, while 2014 Emirates Airline US Open Series men’s champion Milos Raonic finishes third. Both players tied with 70 points; Dimitrov finishes second based on tie-breaks, having won seven matches in the series this summer, as opposed to Raonic’s five. The second and third-placed finishers will compete for US Open bonus payouts of $500,000 and $250,000, respectively.
Novak Djokovic and Marin Cilic each earned 100 points for their Rogers Cup and Western & Southern Open victories, respectively. Players must earn points in two or more Emirates Airline US Open Series events to be eligible for the final Bonus Challenge standings and US Open bonus prize money.
Britain’s Laura Robson is one win away from qualifying for the US Open after beating Bulgarian Isabella Shinikova.
The 22-year-old won 6-4 6-4 and will now face Germany’s Tatjana Maria on Friday for a place in the first round at Flushing Meadows.
Robson now has seven victories in a row, having won an event in Landisville earlier this month.
Briton Tara Moore failed to reach the final round of qualifying, losing 1-6 6-3 6-2 to Germany’s Antonia Lottner.
The draw for the first round takes place on Friday.
Britain’s Andy Murray, Aljaz Bedene, Dan Evans, Kyle Edmund, Johanna Konta, Heather Watson and Naomi Broady will all feature.
Aussie into first ATP World Tour semi-final
John Millman scored a milestone win at the Winston-Salem Open on Thursday, downing top seed Richard Gasquet 7-5, 6-3 to move into his maiden ATP World Tour semi-final. The 92-minute win also marked the first time Millman has beaten a player in the Top 15 of the Emirates ATP Rankings. The Aussie, who reached a career-best No. 60 in the Emirates ATP Rankings in May, is currently ranked No. 81.
“No matter what level, every tournament I go in to compete, to do my best and to win,” said Millman, who is taking part in the event for the first time. “To be honest, at the start of the week I was a bit busted physically because of the long weeks at the Olympics and in Cincinnati. But now I’m moving great and I’m hitting the ball really well. It’s a treat to be here. The conditions are great and suit my game well.
“Gasquet is a top player. Playing and beating him is very satisfying. Every week that I’m playing an ATP World Tour event, I gain more confidence that I can compete at this level, and I’m proud of that,” the 27-year-old Millman, who broke the Frenchman five times during the match, said. “Everyone remaining in the tournament is an accomplished player. Every win is a bonus for me right now.”
Millman will next face Pablo Carreno Busta, who topped Andrey Kuznetsov 6-4, 6-3. The Spaniard fired nine aces and saved all seven break points faced to advance in 85 minutes. Millman beat Carreno Busta in the first round of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in Miami earlier this year. It was the pair’s lone previous FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting.
No. 2 seed Roberto Bautista Agut is safely through to the semi-finals after beating Yen-Hsun Lu 6-3, 6-2. Bautista Agut did not face a break point in the 61-minute win and broke Lu three times. The Spaniard improved to 3-0 in the pair’s FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry and has yet to drop a set against the man from Chinese Taipei. The 28 year old is seeking a third ATP World Tour title in 2016, having prevailed in Auckland and in Sofia.