U.S. Open Champion Andy Murray Begins Title Defense

Expect drama and surprises from the big guns on day three at Flushing Meadows

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Dan Istitene / Getty Images for the USTA

Andy Murray during a practice session ahead of the 2013 US Open on August 24 in New York City.

Defending U.S. Open champion Andy Murray says he is as nervous as ever as he prepares to play his first round match against Michael Llodra at 7pm EST on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old Scot shows no signs of complacency despite tasting glory last year and his subsequent triumph on the hallowed lawn of Wimbledon. On his French opponent, he told the BBC this week: “It’s a tough match. Llodra is a tricky player, serves well, one of the best doubles players in the world just now, very good hands, and he’s very unpredictable.”

Meanwhile, top women’s seed Serena Williams will battle Galina Voskoboeva in their second round match also on Wednesday. It’s expected to be a breezy victory for the five-time and defending U.S. Open champion considering her Kazakh opponent’s best previous finish in New York was in the same round last year. But the surprise win of 17-year-old Victoria Duval (ranked 296th in the world) over 2011 champion Samantha Stosur in the last round proves that anything can happen at Flushing Meadows.

Fans of James Blake should take note that Wednesday may also be the last chance to see the 33-year-old American in competitive action after he announced his retirement from professional tennis immediately following the tournament.

[BBC]