Serena Williams is still the favorite, but not overwhelming

But that hasn’t dented his confidence that he can claim a second US Open, four years after his breakthrough in NY saw him become the first British man in 76 years to win a Grand Slam title.

Williams is seeking her 23rd major title, which would break a tie with Steffi Graf for most in the Open era.

Gone is the Open’s defending women’s champion, Flavia Pennetta, who after defeating Italian countrywoman Roberta Vinci in the final previous year, announced her retirement. “It’s not ideal, but it was all I could do”, she said. “So I will try to enjoy every moment right now because it’s one of the best seasons of my career”.

Kerber and Muguruza have both outgunned the 34-year-old in major finals this year but the German insists the landscape has not changed yet. He lost in the third round at Wimbledon, won the Toronto Masters against a weakened field and then left the Olympics in tears after losing in the first round to Juan Martin del Potro.

She then withdrew from her WTA title defence in Cincinnati, still struggling with painful shoulder inflammation.

“I would imagine if I’m lucky I’d be playing at this level for three, four more years, max, I would think”, said 2012 champion Murray. “But there is nothing we can do about it”.

“I think Rafa pretty much proved his fitness in Rio, playing a lot of tennis, winning the doubles and also playing as many matches as anyone there. That’s all I can do now”.

Shriver believes the support of a home crowd can drive Williams, who plays Ekaterina Makarova in the first round on Monday.

Her older sister Venus – one of Keys’ childhood idols – is seeded sixth.

Her run to the semi-finals in NY in 2011 was the catalyst for her rise up the rankings, but it was a trip to see former world number one Steffi Graf in Las Vegas in early 2015 that really did the trick. That is shifting over to my match play, where I feel I used to have two or three games of bad decisions, or loss of focus.

Far from feeling stressed by the chance to topple Williams, Kerber said she is thriving on the race for number one. “I love it”, Kerber said.

Despite Williams’ rivals getting increasingly confident they can topple the world No. 1, she remains optimistic that she can put in a good performance in NY. BJK is one of only 4 women to win the US Open without dropping a set 2 or more times in the Open era (Obviously, all of them feature in this list).

“Now that I’m in the main draw, I’m pumped about it”. She says she is doing a lot of physical therapy. A 12-time Grand Slam singles victor, Billie Jean King won 4 of her titles at Flushing Meadows.

But Murray admits, that one day it will come to an end.

Murray has won his last two major competitions, at the Olympics and Wimbledon. Djokovic’s potential route is littered with big hitters – not the best of prospects for a player nursing a wrist problem – while Murray’s consists mostly of seasoned professionals who have not given him too much trouble in the past.

As for Djokovic’s troublesome wrist, Murray sees it this way: “I’ve had a long summer as well”. Let’s see how the others will play.