A few tweaks and Andy Murray can rule the world, says Novak Djokovic

Red alert: Andy Murray practises ahead of his Flushing Meadows opener against Somdev Devvarman tomorrow
Simon Cambers13 April 2012

World No1 Novak Djokovic believes Andy Murray is close to breaking his Grand Slam duck.

Djokovic reported here fully fit for the US Open after the shoulder injury which forced him to pull out midway through the final against Murray in Cincinnati nine days ago.

Favourite to win his third Grand Slam of the year, the Serb beat Murray in the final at the Australian Open in January but is convinced the Scot will emulate him and become a major winner.

Murray has lost each of his three Grand Slam finals but Djokovic said: "We are all fully aware of his potential and we are all fully aware that he has great talent.

"There are some things that he just needs to get together mentally. He has proven that he can win against anybody on any surface."

By the time Murray begins his campaign tomorrow against world No 64 Somdev Devvarman, of India, Roger Federer could have booked his place in the third round.

The US Open is the only one of the four Grand Slam events that stretches the first round over three days and the Scot said yesterday he could not "understand the logic" of waiting until Wednesday for his first appearance.

Djokovic, who added the Wimbledon crown to his Australian Open title but lost to Federer in the French Open semi-finals this year, begins his campaign for a first US Open title later today with a first-round encopunter with Irishman Conor Niland.

Defending champion Rafael Nadal takes on Andrey Golubev, of Kazakhstan.

Federer last night set the tone for the top four of Djokovic, Murray and Nadal as he cruised into the second round.

The Swiss, looking to extend his record haul of Grand Slam titles to 17 but who has not won a major for 18 months, did not need to hit top gear as he outclassed Santiago Giraldo, of Colombia, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.

But his rivals would have been heartened by a few lapses in concentration as the Swiss allowed Giraldo back into the match on a couple of occasions before eventually sealing victory.

The five-times winner tested his net game against the Colombian and, at the age of 30, claims he still has what it takes to win another Slam and reclaim top spot in the rankings.

"I have always looked in the long term," he said. "I have never been chasing stuff around since I turned world No1 seven years ago.

"That's why I'm confident I can still play for many more years to come at the highest of levels."

Meanwhile, Britain's Heather Watson, 19, claimed the first set against the former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova before going down 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. "I had a lot of fun today," Watson said.

"It's what I want to do. I want to be out there on the big courts playing the top players. It was a really great match, very competitive. We played some really great tennis."

Laura Robson, 17, advanced to the second round when Japan's Ayumi Morita pulled out with a shoulder injury, trailing 7-6, 1-0.

Elsewhere in the women's event, there was a comfortable start for Venus Williams, two-times winner, who beat Russian Vesna Dolonts 6-4, 6-3. But Wimbledon champion Petra ­Kvitova suffered a shock defeat, losing 7-6, 6-3 to Alexandra Dulgheru, of Romania.

Britain's Elena Baltacha takes on American Jamie Hampton later today and Londoner Anne ­Keothavong faces Chanelle Scheepers, of South Africa.

The weather was good for the opening day after Hurricane Irene caused havoc in New York over the weekend.

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