The paths of Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have been inextricably linked throughout their careers so perhaps it’s fitting that the Scot’s recent victory over the Serb is what has him in such good spirits going into the US Open.
Murray begins his quest for a third grand slam title tomorrow against Nick Kyrgios – and all the hoopla the Australian brings with him – a task he’s not taking lightly.
But it’s Djokovic, the world No 1 and the man who has won three of the past seven grand slams, who looms large as the man he will almost certainly have to beat if he is to add to his 2012 US Open title and his 2013 Wimbledon crown.
The Serb leads their head to head record 18-10 and had won eight times in a row until Murray beat him in three gruelling sets to win the title in Montreal earlier this month.
All titles are important to a player’s confidence but for Murray, finding a way past his old nemesis was crucial and the Scot has been cutting a confident figure here this week as he prepares for the final grand slam event of the year.
As he looked back on what’s been a packed summer, from the French Open to Queen’s, Wimbledon and the Davis Cup and then three US hard-court events in Washington, Montreal and Cincinnati, Murray said he could not be in a better place.
“I feel very good in my game,” Murray said. “I’ve played enough but then I’ve no idea how I’ll feel in 10 days’ time or if I’m in the middle of a fifth set with Nick (Krygios) in a couple of days.
“But I planned and prepared for this to be the case with the US Open and the Davis Cup being my priorities over the next couple of months and planned accordingly with the physical team as to what I’d be doing off the court, making sure I got enough rest in and everything else. I feel good just now.”
His performance in beating Djokovic was almost as impressive as the result itself as Murray upped his power, becoming the aggressor throughout to find a way through the defences of the best defender in the sport.
“It was a big win for me for a bunch of reasons,” Murray told Sky Sports. “After Washington, to come back and win the tournament there was big and also against Novak, coming back and being very strong in the third set.
“A couple of times this year, the final sets of matches have got away from me. That could have happened again in Montreal but I stayed strong and got a big win there. It’s important for me and important for me to get that confidence ahead of the US Open.”
Drawn in the other half to Djokovic, Murray can meet the world No 1 only if they both make the final.
Beaten in four sets by Djokovic in the Australian Open final this year, Murray will remember his 2012 win here against him in the final and the fact that he beat him to win the Wimbledon title and also took him out on his way to Olympic gold.
Having got married in April and with his first child on the way in February, Murray is happy with life and it’s transferring into his efforts on the court. With semi-final appearances at the French Open and Wimbledon to add to his final run in Australia, 2015 could end up being his most consistent yet and no one has played more matches than he has this year.
His calm state of mind has been evident in his comments regarding the suspended one-month ban handed out to Kyrgios for lewd comments during a match with Stan Wawrinka earlier this month.
Murray, who had some issues of his own to come through in the early stages of his career, had some generous words for Kyrgios, while acknowledging what he actually said was very wrong.
And what makes his contest with Kyrgios so intriguing – even if on paper, Murray is a big favourite having won all three of their matches without losing a set – is that he’s almost become a mentor to Kyrgios and another young Australian, Thanasi Kokkinakis.
“I remembered a lot of the guys who were helpful and nice to me when I first came on to the Tour,” Murray said, explaining why he felt happy to do it.
“I enjoy it. They’re obviously very enthusiastic, they always give you good practice.
“They put in big effort in the training sessions and they want to learn as well so it’s perfect. A lot of them are really nice guys. I get on well with most of them. I enjoy training with them.”
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