Roger Federer: Is Andy Murray ready to beat the world's No. 1?
Roger Federer won Wimbledon, is back at No. 1, and says it will take something special to beat him at the US Open. Can Andy Murray beat Roger Federer?
Roger Federer of Switzerland kisses the 2012 Wimbledon singles championship trophy after defeating Andy Murray of Britain at Wimbledon, England. Federer is once again ranked No. 1, and enters the U.S. Open, the title favorite, once again.
(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
New York
Roger Federer looks to cap an "incredible" season when he launches his bid for a sixth U.S. Open title against American Donald Young on Monday.
Federer beat Briton Andy Murray to win the 2012 Wimbledon title, regained his world No. 1 ranking and comes into the final grand slam of the year in ominous form.
"I'm just happy how I'm playing," said Federer. "I already reached my goal for the year becoming world No. 1 and getting Wimbledon again and getting a medal for Switzerland.
"It's been incredible."
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Federer also said that he's ready to go the distance at the US Open.
"I felt good last year, but probably felt that maybe at times the matches were not always in my racquet, whereas maybe this time around I feel like if I'm playing well I can dictate who's going to win or lose," said Federer.
"It's going to take something special from my opponent to win. That's kind of how it feels right now."
Play was suspended for about two hours on the opening day of the U.S. Open on Monday when rain showers swept through the National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows.
Defending champion and seventh seed Samantha Stosur of Australia was one of the few players to reach the second round before the rain came as she crushed Croatia's Petra Martic 6-1, 6-1.
Meanwhile, Andy Murray, who lost to Federer in the Wimbledon final but beat the Swiss weeks later at the same venue to win gold at the London Olympics, is also in action on Monday against Russian Alex Bogomolov Jr.
Despite his golden summer, Murray said he was not about to slack off.
"I needed to make sure that afterwards I worked hard," he said. "Whether you're confident or not confident, providing you work hard and you do all the right things in training, then you'll get a good result.
"That was the most important thing, to make sure I kept my feet on the ground and keep working hard and try to improve.
"Am I more confident? You never know what's going to happen when you get out there on the court. I prepared well. I trained hard the last five, six days, so I'm ready to go."
Also taking the court on Monday will be former champions Maria Sharapova, who completed her career grand slam this year at the French Open, and three-times U.S. Open titlist Kim Clijsters.
Clijsters, who faces American Victoria Duval, will retire after the tournament.
"Obviously this place is magical for me," the Belgian said. "I have had so many beautiful memories. I have enjoyed coming here from when I was a junior.
"I love the surface, I love the atmosphere, and I'm excited."
Sharapova, who won at Flushing Meadows in 2006, will face Hungary's Melinda Czink in her opening-round match. The Russian has not played since winning a silver medal at the Olympics.
"I feel really good," she said. "I went into Montreal and was supposed to play but I got a stomach bug and just decided to give it a rest.
"I think it was a sign my body just needed to slow down. It was a lot of travel, a lot of playing. Had a hectic summer.
"I know that if I feel healthy and I have enough practice, I'm okay. I don't feel like I need to play three tournaments in a row in order to be ready for the U.S. Open." (Editing by Peter Rutherford)