THE final major of the year is under way and I believe there are only three men who can win the title: Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray or Rafael Nadal.

I see them as equal favourites. These three players are now so experienced at this level that, unless they play on a clay court, it comes down to who plays the most inspired tennis on the day. That was not the case twelve months ago when Murray was still searching for that elusive major title, but with two now tucked away in his trophy room he is up there with the great players of his generation.

This year's US Open draw is littered with fantastic tennis players, but the flag bearers of the game have created such space between themselves and the rest of the field that anyone else only ever gets a sniff of the title.

Milos Raonic, the young Canadian, made it to the final of the Rogers Cup in Montreal but only because Murray lost early - in the final Nadal showed him what life was really like at the top. At Wimbledon, Jerzy Janowicz burst through to the last four where he put up a fantastic fight against the eventual champion. His path was only clear, though, due to Nadal's opening-round exit. Someday, there will be space at the top of the game for the likes of Raonic and Janowicz but that time is not yet upon us.

Murray, Nadal and Djokovic will be remembered as some of the greatest players of all time and all of them are still far too hungry for major titles.

What about Roger Federer? I have no doubt that Roger will be eager to prove to himself and the world that he is still in the running for major titles and he can beat anyone in a one-off match but, as the world No.7, he may have to beat three out of the top four players in consecutive matches and I feel that will be too difficult a task.

For our Wimbledon champion, though, the routine of preparing for a grand slam has become second nature. For years now Andy has been expected to deliver victory after victory in what is one of the toughest sports on the planet.

This year's US Open will feel slightly different as he defends a grand slam title for the first time. The main impact of this will have been pre-tournament obligations and, for someone in Andy's position, time management and scheduling is a very important part of his profession. If he gets that wrong at any point he will get some fairly instant feedback.

Looking at the pattern of his results, particularly over the last 12 months, it has become evident that his major goal is winning grand slam titles. Other tournaments are simply tools to help him achieve that major goal. Andy has lost to the likes of Donald Young, Alex Bogomolov, and Ernests Gulbis in Masters series events, but these would have been turned into comfortable victories when it really mattered in a grand slam. Players of Andy's calibre are judged and remembered in very simple terms: the amount of grand slam titles next to their name.

The obvious follow-up question is why bother playing in events outside the slams? The main reason is that to be in peak condition for the major events a regular competitive diet is required. Andy has devoted himself to longer training blocks in the last few years which, combined with the right amount of matches, has allowed us to watch him play such inspiring tennis in the most trying of circumstances.

Arriving at that place does not happen overnight and it is important to understand that an athlete cannot possibly peak for four grand slams and nine masters events every year.

When Andy takes to the court in New York today, he will be a player in the absolute prime of both his physical condition and his career.

He has won two of his last three grand slams. Anyone who wants to stop him at Flushing Meadows will have to fight through the tennis equivalent of a brick wall.