Former British #1 Johanna Konta has praised Andy Murray while suggesting that the Scot will make it to the second week of US Open for the first time since returning to the tour after hip surgery.
Last week, Murray secured the highest ranking of ATP #37 in 5 years after entering R3 at Montreal. However, there were some concerns for the three-time major winner after he pulled out of his R3 match against eventual champion Italian Jannik Sinner because of experiencing abdominal strain.
The former #1 then also withdrew from Western and Southern Open but Konta thinks the Brit has ability to challenge the best players in the world if he is physically fit.
“I think just seeing Murray back into a physical state where he is able to play the wants to play and therefore, like he said, challenge the best players in the world is I think the most you can ask of any player going into a Slam,” Konta told Express Sport. “If they’re physically fit and their level is starting to build and they’re looking just more consistent then that’s where they want to be.”
She continued, “And I think especially for us with Andy, seeing him be able to be Andy on court because it was always his physicality, his tenacity on court, he just absolutely wrangles his way through matches in such a tough way.
“So I think that he is in that space now to be able to do that and to do that successively in match after match, I don’t see why we wouldn’t see him potentially in the second week and then we’ll see what happens.”
Konta also commented on the chances of 2-time Wimbledon Champion reaching the second week of a major or winning his maiden ATP title since 2019.
“I mean that’s a bit like the chicken or the egg,” claimed the 32-year-old. “Whether it will be a title, a 250 or a 500 title to come before a second week appearance at a Slam again, who knows? But I think whenever as a player you get just a good run of tournaments, a good run of matches in those tournaments, making quarters, semis, finals. That builds and that will build into either making second week in a Slam or winning a title.”
With Murray on the brink of losing a seeded spot at the Flushing Meadows, he will be eager to see the draw releasing on Thursday.
Murray in the Second Week at GS’s
With Murray being backed to book the second week/R4 berth at New York, here are his last four appearances at the four majors of the Calendar.
Australian Open – Fourth Round (2017)
Roland Garros – Semi-final (2017)
Wimbledon – Quarter-final (2017)
US Open – Quarter-final (2016)