Expect tears, cheers, thrills and spills when Andy Murray and Serena Williams take to the court docket to headline the action on the opening day of the US Open.
The 40-year-old American will take on world No 80 Danka Kovinic of Montenegro in the evening match on Arthur Ashe Stadium (midnight in the UK) and the eyes of the world will all be on the international celebrity, who confirmed earlier this month she was “evolving” away from tennis.
The US Open is predicted to be the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s ultimate match and regardless of fairy tales being synonymous with New York, Murray says this yr’s match ought to all be about celebrating Williams’ extraordinary profession.
“Her and Venus have had a massive impact on the sport. They had Oscar-winning movies made about their careers,” Murray stated, referencing Will Smith’s win as greatest actor for his portrayal of their father Richard in King Richard.
“Serena is far larger than tennis. She is a correct international sports activities celebrity just about in every single place she goes and I feel she is going to go down as the best feminine participant of all time.
“She has hardly played the last few years, so expectations on her run should be very low but the celebrations of her career should be really, really high. She will probably want this week to be about everything she has achieved, having
a really nice send-off and it being more of a celebration rather than being really upset that it is the end.”
Getting the higher of her rivals
Serena Williams appears destined to finish her profession on 23 Grand Slams, one in need of Margaret Court’s all-time document
Williams has a successful document in opposition to all 22 gamers she has confronted 10 or extra instances – a listing of people who span greater than 15 years from oldest to youngest and have 43 Grand Slam trophies between them.
Serena has performed the most matches in opposition to her older sister Venus, successful 19 of their 31 encounters, together with seven out of 9 Grand Slam finals.
Her subsequent most typical opponents are Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova, who she has confronted 23 and 22 instances respectively.
Williams has overwhelmed Sharapova extra instances than anybody else and holds a 20-2 win-loss document.
She misplaced two of her first three matches in opposition to Sharapova – together with the 2004 Wimbledon ultimate when the Russian was simply 17 – however went on to win their subsequent 19 conferences, dropping solely three units alongside the method.
Seeing off a number of generations
Williams has performed 1,011 matches on the WTA Tour, dealing with opponents born in yearly from 1966 to 2003.
Due to her longevity – she turns 41 at the finish of September – Williams has performed two-thirds (66 per cent) of her matches in opposition to youthful gamers.
Williams has an 87 per cent win charge in opposition to youthful gamers in contrast with 80 per cent in opposition to these born earlier than her.
She loved her most profitable interval after turning 30, successful 10 Grand Slams in fewer than 5 years between Wimbledon 2012 and the 2017 Australian Open.
One in need of Court
Williams has accomplished simply 4 matches to this point in 2022 and is ranked 413 in the world
Barring a miracle triumph at the US Open, Williams is destined to finish her profession on 23 Grand Slams, one in need of Margaret Court’s all-time document (24).
She has been unable so as to add to her tally since successful the Australian Open in 2017 whereas eight weeks pregnant.
Williams missed the subsequent 4 majors to offer delivery to her daughter Olympia, earlier than returning to tennis in 2018. She went on to succeed in 4 Grand Slam finals in 2018 and 2019 however misplaced in straight units on every event.
Injuries have hampered Williams for the previous two years – she has accomplished simply 4 matches to this point in 2022, having performed 17 in 2021.
As a consequence, she has barely confronted gamers in their teenagers or early 20s.
The world’s present prime 5 are all aged 27 and below, with 4 of them – Iga Swiatek, Anett Kontaveit, Paula Badosa and Ons Jabeur – having by no means performed Williams in singles.
Murray’s cramp points stay a thriller after checks got here again clear forward of his opening spherical conflict in opposition to Argentinian twenty fourth seed Francisco Cerundolo.
The Scot underwent sweat testing to attempt to get to the backside of the drawback however that didn’t flag up any points as he prepares for the match, which is first up on Louis Armstrong Stadium on Monday – be a part of our game-by-game weblog from 4pm for dwell updates.
Watch out for younger British ace Jack Draper as the 20-year-old takes on Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland
Talented British teen Jack Draper faces Emil Ruusuvuori, whereas Kyle Edmund returns to Grand Slam action after shut to 2 years out with a knee damage that required three operations.
Edmund, who’s ranked 666th however entered the yr’s ultimate Grand Slam utilizing a protected rating, goes up in opposition to fifth seed and French Open finalist Casper Ruud in a troublesome encounter.
Harriet Dart additionally faces a troublesome ask as she takes on Granby winner Daria Kasatkina.
World No 1 Daniil Medvedev is first up on Arthur Ashe in opposition to Stefan Kozlov with Maria Sakkari, Ons Jabeur, Simona Halep are all in action.
The ‘Special Ks’ Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis meet one another in the late, late encounter.
What else to look out for?
Coaching involves a Grand Slam
For the first time at a serious match, in-match teaching can be allowed. Coaches should sit in designated courtside seats and solely can talk with gamers whereas they’re at the identical finish of the area.
New tie-break format
The US Open has joined the three different main tournaments in agreeing to undertake a uniform system a first-to-10 factors quite than the conventional seven in the ultimate set of matches.
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