Meet The Press - Media Day at the 2018 US Open

Meet The Press – Media Day at the 2018 US Open

(August 24, 2018) FLUSHING MEADOWS – Top seeds and former champions graced the new Louis Armstrong Stadium to answer questions from the media on Sunday ahead of the 2018 US Open. The news conferences had an audience – the public who were invited to watch the proceedings live.

Former champion Andy Murray back on tour the last few months since returning from a hip injury that sidelined him for almost a year.

“My expectation is to give my best effort in the matches,” said Murray, who is currently ranked 378th in the world. “Hopefully if I do that, my tennis will get better. Take each match at a time. It’s kind of difficult to predict how you’re going to do and say how far you’re going to go in the event.

“My tennis is getting better all the time. Just need to be on the court more consistently through till the end of the year.”

“All injuries are completely different,” he added later. “Some are more serious than others. Someone is out for a few weeks with a muscle injury, it’s very different to somebody recovering from a surgery on certain parts of the body. It’s notoriously more difficult.

“I haven’t really looked at them so much as an inspiration for a comeback. I’m trying to deal with the situation that I’ve been in as best as I can myself.

“But I do feel that once my body is right again, which takes time when you haven’t played many matches in a year, I’m sure that my level will be okay to get me competing at the top of the game again.”

2009 champion Juan Martindel Potro was asked about his journey back from various injuries over the years:

“Well, the most important thing that all my injuries and problems is completely in the past. Now I’m feeling good. Sometimes I have to deal with any pain on my wrist, which is normal after all my surgeries.

“But I think it’s amazing for me just thinking about tennis, don’t talk anymore about the injuries, which is the most important thing to myself and come to this tournament thinking about my highest ranking or my big expectations playing the tournament. It’s the best things I could feel before a tournament.”

Sloane Stephens comes back after wining the tournament last year. “But as defending champion, obviously a lot of stress, a lot of pressure,” she said.

“I’m just going to go out and handle it as best I can, just try to play my best. Obviously it’s a completely new tournament this year. Just got to go out and do your absolute best and see what happens.”

“There’s always a lot of extra things that happen after winning. Obviously an American winning the US Open is pretty big. Definitely a lot of things to do. A lot less down days for myself. But that comes with the territory.

“I think I handled it the best that I could. I’ve just made the most of it, tried to keep my tennis first. That’s really all you can do.”

Five-time champion and second seed Roger Federer has No. 6 seed Novak Djokovic in his quarter of the draw.

“In terms of the draw, I mean, we have so many draws that happened throughout my career that you just take it on your chin and you’re, like, Okay, fine, that’s what it is.

“We can’t control it. I’m not in a quarterfinal match yet. I’m not in a second-round match yet. You just go back to — just the next few days are important. How am I feeling by my first-round match? That’s what the focus needs to be, and then the draw is what it is.

“Sure, you sometimes wonder, like, is it easier to play guys with not such a résumé like a Novak so early in the tournament? But because he won Cincinnati, I could have also played Novak in the fourth round if he wouldn’t have made a move in the rankings.

“So I think we are all happier that he’s higher ranked so we don’t have to face him already in the first round, like Stan is playing Dimitrov back to back. From that standpoint, the quarterfinals is already quite deep in a tournament. I know, in terms of points compared to the winner, it’s a bit of a joke, 360 to 2,000 points, but I don’t think Novak and myself are playing for ATP points, per se. Either it’s No. 1 or nothing.

“So the draw, it is what it is, and I’ve got enough stuff to worry about anyway in the earlier rounds. My focus is the first round. Nothing else.”

Australian Open winner Caroline Wozniacki gets a tough test in teh first round as she will take on former US Open winner Sam Stosur.

“Sam’s a great player and obviously won the US Open here in 2011, I think. You know, it’s definitely a tough first round,” said the Dane. “I have to be ready from the start. There is no easing into it.

“But I’m ready. I feel I’m playing good. I feel I’m doing the right things, so we’ll see.

“The US Open is very special. I think some of my earlier memories were when Venus and Serena started coming up, when they were young. They had the braids and the beads. And I remember, I think it was Venus, the hair, it all fell out on the court. Those are some of my earlier memories.

“Also just the fashion aspect of it and the atmosphere. I think there is nothing to beat Arthur Ashe night sessions. Those are very special.”

No. 1 Simona Halep captured the French Open for her first major title. She was asked about being No. 1.

“Well, it’s a great feeling, for sure. I can say I got used to it. I had few months there. It’s always a pleasure and always something special when I hear it.”

“Well, definitely my dream came true (winning a major). Inside myself something changed. I’m more relaxed. I feel thankful for everything I achieved. Also these two were my dreams, to be No. 1 in the world and to win a Grand Slam. Always I say No. 1 in the world without a Grand Slam, you are not a real No. 1. I said that before.

“After French Open, I really started to believe that I’m a real No. 1. So I think made me more confident, made me more relaxed. I have different desire now when I’m on court. I enjoy more the time.”

Fresh off of beating Serena Williams at Wimbledon, Kerber was asked about comparing her curret form to that of two years ago when she won two majors.

“I think it’s a little bit different. I mean, I tried to improve my tennis in the last two years, and of course now I have much more experience than two years ago.

“For me now it’s more to going out there, focusing on this what I try to practice and, yeah, going out there, winning matches, but also on one way enjoying my tennis, enjoying the way I’m playing, enjoying the fans they are watching me, and enjoying my time off court.”

No. 1 Rafael Nadal talked about his level of confidence this year:

“Have been I think a very positive season,” he said. “In general terms, is true that of the first three months of the season have been very, very tough for me in terms of the injury that I had in Australia. Yeah, but after that I think I lost two matches and I had to retire from Australia, no? Been a great season.

“During Wimbledon, fantastic clay court season, then a very positive start in Toronto of the hard court season playing good event there. That’s important for the feelings, for the confidence. That’s give me a chance to rest the week after in Cincinnati, and I am here just trying to improve every day the level of practices I think I’m doing. Just remain, yeah, two more days of practice before Monday I start. I hope to be ready for it.”

The 17-time major champion comes into Flushing Meadow trying to defend his title.

“Have been a very important title,” Noted the Spaniard. “Last year have been a very special year after a couple of years. 2015 was not a positive year in terms of level of tennis. 2016 I was playing good tennis, but I got injured. Have the chance to get back in 2017. Of course, win on clay, but then win on hard again is something that, yeah, means a lot to me, especially here in New York.

“Being honest, I always had a great connection with the crowd here. The crowd bring me to another level of energy. That’s something that I enjoy.”

Last year’s finalist reflected on her run through the tournament last year:

“I think the biggest thing is remembering that there were a lot of matches where I was down a break in the third or it could have very easily gone the other way.

“But I just found a way to stay in the match. I definitely used the crowd. And I think that’s the thing that I’m most excited about, just being able to be back in front of a home crowd and have the buzz of the US Open.”

The big news out of the Alexander Zverev team is that he has a new coach – Ivan Lendl.

“We known each other for many years,” he said.” We’ve known each other for a few years now. He was working with Andy. Jez Green was also part of the team as well. That’s how it kind of started.

“Yeah, I felt like after Wimbledon, it was a perfect time to kind of maybe try something new, try a thing like that.

“Obviously the reason I’m with him is to compete and win the biggest tournaments in the world. That’s the only reason he would join, as well. It’s great having him here. Hopefully it will show in the results.”

“There’s a lot of tactical work, for sure. There’s a lot of mental work, as well, to kind of show me what it takes to compete for Grand Slams, to win Grand Slams. That for sure he has showed me a little bit.

But yeah, the training sessions are tough. The training sessions have always been tough when I work. I’m a pretty hard working guy, so I know what it takes. I’m not somebody who sits on my ass when I’m alone. I’m always constantly trying to figure out ways to get better. That hasn’t changed that much. The training sessions are still tough. The training sessions are tough when I’m by myself.

“Hopefully, as I said, it will show in the results.”

1968 women’s winner, Hall of Famer Virginia Wade tlaked about returning to the US Open: One of the best things about winning is that they treat you so well as a past champion. You can sit in the President’s Box. You get the best seat in the house… Before they had Arthur Ashe Stadium, they played in Louis Armstrong Stadium. As past champions, we were allowed to sit in a little corner box. We would sit with Vic Seixas, Fred Stolle – all these other past champions. You were floor level watching Agassi, Sampras, Connors, Borg, particularly the Chris and Martina matches. That was really unbelievable.”