Murray Dismisses Talk Of “Best Ever Chance”

© Getty ImagesAndy Murray is hoping to win his first Grand Slam title.

World No. 4 Andy Murray has dismissed claims by John McEnroe that this is his best chance of winning a Grand Slam title. Four-time US Open champion McEnroe said, "The hungriest man in the draw should be Murray. I think this is his best shot to win one."

Murray comes into the US Open as one of the most in-form players, having won the Cincinnati title when Novak Djokovic retired with a shoulder injury, while Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal both failed to advance past the quarter-finals in either Montreal or Cincinnati. However, the Scot is only too well aware that it will have little bearing when the starting whistle blows.

“It's a silly thing to say. It will be Federer is not playing well and Rafa is struggling and Djokovic's shoulder is sore. But I know come Monday they'll all be fine,” said Murray, a three-time Grand Slam runner-up, including at this year’s Australian Open. “I have a chance of winning for sure. Whether it's my best chance or not, no one has a clue about that.

“Someone like John, who has played thousands of matches probably knows that one bad day and you can put yourself out of the tournament. You're going to have to play an incredible event to win. So I feel like I'm ready to do that. But to say it's my best chance, no one knows.”

As well as reaching the Australian Open final, the 24-year-old Murray has also been a semi-finalist at Roland Garros and Wimbledon this year, and is happy with his form as he bids to try and become the first British male Grand Slam champion since 1936.

“Come the end of the week in Cincinnati I was playing some of my best tennis,” said Murray, the 2008 US Open runner-up. “I have been hitting the ball well, but I still felt like there were some things I could have improved upon, which was really nice coming in this week, being able to work on some things and not feeling like I was almost recovering before the US Open. I felt like this week I have been preparing for it and looking forward to it.”

Murray opens his campaign against India’s Somdev Devvarman and is in the same half of the draw as defending champion Rafael Nadal.