Flushing Meadows Is Calling
The US Open begins today in New York, with all the contenders having reasons beyond the obvious behind to fuel their desire to win the title.
While there are many battles to look forward to the most delectable one as of right now is Andy Murray's against perennial bad-boy, Australian Nick Kyrgios.
Murray, the world number three, won in New York in 2012, ending Britain's 76-year wait for a Grand Slam men's singles champion and will be looking to repeat that feat.
The tournament will begin tomorrow, carrying with it the possibility of Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic taking another step towards making history. However, the duo will have many competitors in their way, and nobody is giving an inch.
Last year's winner Marin Cilic proved that underdogs can win as well, but for now Djokovic remains the men's favourite.
DJOKOVIC
46 years in the making
Not since Australian legend Rod Laver in 1969 has a man completed a calendar year Grand Slam, but top-ranked Novak Djokovic believes he could be the next man to do it.
The 28-year-old Serbian top seed will launch his US Open campaign against Brazil's Joao Souza.
Djokovic, seeking his 10th career Slam title, is only one match shy of coming to the Flushing Meadows fortnight with the same chance as Williams at a calendar-year Slam sweep.
"I have been close and that gives me reason to believe that I can achieve that," Djokovic said.
SERENA
chasing history
World number one Serena Williams feels the pressure of chasing history at the US Open, but she accepts the intensity as the price for dominating a generation of women's tennis.
The 33-year-old American is a huge favorite as she tries to complete the first calendar-year Grand Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988 by winning her 22nd career major title.
"I decided I prefer to have that pressure than the pressure of not winning," Williams said. "Not everyone can handle that pressure, but I'm OK with it. I would rather be in this position than another one."
FEDERER
unwavering
Roger Federer likes his chances of winning the US Open after a resurgent run to the Wimbledon final and aggressive play that produced a tuneup title last week at Cincinnati.
But the 34-year-old Swiss star, winner of a record 17 Grand Slam singles titles but none since Wimbledon in 2012, isn't looking past his first opponent at the Flushing Meadows.
"I feel like I have a good chance but I really can't think further than my opponent right now," Federer said.
"I haven't been in the finals in this tournament as of late. I came close but close is not good enough."
MARIA
up to challenge
Maria Sharapova says the domination of Serena Williams should not diminish the efforts of other women's players, but adds they must step up and answer the challenge.
Sharapova could meet the world number one in the semi-finals of the US Open.
"She has been playing on an incredible level," Sharapova said.
"That doesn't take anything away from other players. We have to step up, me and other players. We have to perform better."
However, Sharapova has previously completed a career Grand Slam of her own.
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