Resurgent Rafael Nadal is hot in New York - but Andy Murray stays cool

Although the last six weeks have seen the odds swing heavily in the Spaniard’s favour, Murray is quietly confident as he prepares to defend his US Open title.
Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after defeating John Isner of the U.S. in two sets to win the championship match at the Men's Cincinnati Open tennis tournament in Cincinnati, Ohio
REUTERS/John Sommers II
23 August 2013

Andy Murray has returned to New York as Olympic, Wimbledon and US Open champion yet is overshadowed by a resurgent Rafael Nadal, who has defied dodgy knees to become the favourite to triumph at Flushing Meadows.

When Murray carried the Wimbledon trophy around Centre Court six weeks ago he was the best player on the planet but we are now marvelling at Nadal after he clinched back- to-back Masters titles in Montreal and Cincinnati on a hard-court surface that was supposed to threaten his career.

Just two weeks after his record-breaking eighth French Open title, Nadal crashed out of Wimbledon at the first stage, adding weight to the view that the pain in his knees could only deal with the sliding red clay surface the Spaniard has dominated on.

However, his 15-0 hard-court record this year helped push him up to No2 in the world ranking and push Murray down a place. As a result, Murray has found himself on Novak Djokovic’s side of the draw while a meeting with Nadal can only happen in the final.

Murray claimed Olympic gold and the US Open trophy (right) while Nadal was out injured and that is relevant because the Spaniard has a winning record against every player in the top 30. He leads world No1 Djokovic 21-15, Murray 13-5 and 17-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer, now languishing at No7 in the rankings, 21-10.

Murray left the Montreal and ­Cincinnati events earlier than he wanted — last 16 in the former and quarters in the latter — but that has not damaged his confidence as he ­prepares to defend a Grand Slam title for the first time.

Murray is in a good place mentally because he loves New York and even the increased media and sponsorship duties inflicted upon a defending champion have not knocked him out of his stride. This, after all, is the city that saw him crowned US Open boys’ champion in 2004 and not even Nadal’s form is causing too many worries.

He said: “People were more concerned this year about how his knees were going to respond to the hard courts, and how much he was actually going to play on them. When Rafa’s fit, or Roger’s fit, the surface doesn’t really matter. They will be there or thereabouts in all the major events. I’m not surprised how well he’s playing but to make so many finals in the tournaments he’s played since he’s come back is very impressive.

CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 16: Andy Murray of Great Britain returns a shot to Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic during the Western & Southern Open on August 16, 2013 at Lindner Family Tennis Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

“For me, playing Montreal and Cincinnati was just getting used to playing points again on this surface, the body getting used to that, because it is very different to the grass. The movement is different, it’s a pretty harsh surface, tough on the body. The way you can change directions, you put a lot of force through your joints. It takes a bit of time to get used to that.”

John McEnroe, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, said this week Murray would be a “hunted” player as rivals try to oust the champion. But the 26-year-old is embracing the challenge and cannot wait to step out onto court for his first-round match against Frenchman Michael Llodra, the world No49. Murray said: “I’ll be excited. At this stage of my career, it doesn’t happen too often where you’re doing something for the first time, so I’ll look forward to that and, hopefully, deal with it okay.”

Laura Robson has the distinction in New York of being the first British woman seeded at a Grand Slam since Jo Durie at the 1987 Australian Open. The No31 seed will play Spain’s Lourdes Dominguez Lino, the world No53, while British No2 Heather Watson faces 21st seed, Simona Halep of Romania.

Three Britons are just one win away from a place in the main draw after victories last night.

James Ward will play India’s Somdev Devvarman tonight after defeating Germany’s Matthias Bachinger 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 while Dan Evans defeated Italy’s Flavio Cipolla 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 to set up a match against Spain’s Adrian Menendez-Maceiras.

Elena Baltacha defeated Ukrainian Olga Savchuk 6-3, 6-0 and now faces Portugal’s Michelle Larcher De Brito but Samantha Murray is out after losing 6-4, 7-5 to American Taylor Townsend.

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