The US Open begins tomorrow and Emma Raducanu hopes she has found the right formula as she looks to defend her title in New York.
The 19-year-old stunned the sporting world 12 months ago as her aggressive approach propelled her to the title without dropping a set.
Raducanu, who plays Alize Cornet in the first round on Tuesday, said: “I think looking back I can say there’s been many months in the year since that I haven’t actually been swinging freely.
“It’s very easy at the time but, when you have absolutely no idea what’s about to hit you, to say something like that, I was still on that energy from those two weeks. Obviously a lot of stuff has happened since.”
Meanwhile, Serena Williams will kick off what is likely to be the last event of her farewell tour on Monday when she headlines the tournament’s opening night in a first-round clash with Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic.
Williams, who three weeks ago announced her forthcoming retirement from tennis, will play the match in front of more than 23,000 fans on Arthur Ashe Stadium, where she has won six of her 23 Grand Slam titles.
When is the US Open?
The tournament begins at Flushing Meadows on Monday 29 August and will finish on Sunday September 11.
What time will it start?
Play will start on the outer court at 3pm BST in the early rounds and at 4pm on the show courts. Expect the action to last long into the night, potentially beyond midnight depending on the course of each match.
What British players are in action?
In total, seven British players have direct entry into the singles daws.
British number one Cameron Norrie is seeded in the top eight for the first time at a grand slam at seven and will face unpredictable Frenchman Benoit Paire on Tuesday.
On Monday, Andy Murray meets 24th seed Francisco Cerundolo from Argentina while Kyle Edmundplaying singles at a grand slam for the first time in two years following three knee operations, has been handed a very tough opener against fifth seed Casper Ruud.
Debutant Jack Draper will take on Finn Emil Ruusuvuori on Tuesday and 20th seed Dan Evans faces Czech Jiri Vesely the following day.
In the women’s singles, as well as Raducanu taking on Alize Cornet on Tuesday, Harriet Dart meets 10th seed Daria Kasatkina on Monday.
What TV channel is it on in the UK?
Amazon Prime Sport has exclusive rights to the US Open. A subscription to Amazon Prime Video costs £7.99 a month, with a 30-day free trial. You can also get unlimited streaming access to Amazon Prime Video as part of a full Amazon Prime membership, which costs £79 a year or, to avoid a lengthy annual contract, £7.99 a month.
Replays will be available around 15 minutes after each match ends and there will be daily highlights.
Alternatively, you can return to follow all the key games on our dedicated live blogs.
How can I watch it in the US?
In the US live coverage of the last grand slam of the year is exclusive to ESPN and ESPN2. However, the Tennis Channel will also show encore matches and other non-live programming.
Who are the defending champions?
Russian Daniil Medvedev is the defending men’s champion after beating Dominik Koepfer in straight sets after last year’s final.
Raducanu is of course the reigning women’s champion, but she has not won a tournament since, retiring injured in Rome in May and at Nottingham in June and exiting both Roland-Garros and Wimbledon in the second round.
“I’m really looking forward to just going back (to New York) and whatever happens I think that it’s going to be a nice close to a chapter, go full circle,” she said.
“Regardless of whatever the result is I can just start again, clean slate. If all my points drop off then I’ll work my way back up. I think it will be, regardless of what happens, (a) fresh start.”
How can I buy US Open tickets?
US Open tickets are currently on general sale and can be purchased on the official tournament website.
How much money does the winner receive?
Both the men’s and women’s singles champion will receive a check for $2,500,000 so just over £2.2 million.
What is the latest news?
Cameron Norrie is looking to build on his breakthrough Wimbledon run by seizing his opportunity at the US Open.
The British No 1 achieved another landmark in what has been an exceptional 18 months by reaching his first grand slam semi-final at the All England Club last month.
And Norrie goes into the year’s final slam buoyed by more strong performances on the North American hard courts, reaching the final of an ATP Tour event in Mexico and then the semi-finals in Cincinnati last week.
One of Norrie’s big strengths is his level-headed approach, and he said of his Wimbledon achievements: “It was a lot of fun but I don’t think (my life) has changed at all. I had the weekend there and then I left and I was preparing for the hard-court season, the best part of my season.
“It was a big goal at the start of the year to make the second week for the first time and to do that and go a couple further was obviously great and to play the level that I did in those rounds beyond that was very cool. Just the same goal, to try to make the second week again and then go from there.”
What are the latest odds?
Men’s singles:
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Daniil Medvedev 7/4
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Rafael Nadal 9/2
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Carlos Alcaraz 9/2
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Nick Kyrgios 11/2
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Cameron Norrie 40/1
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Andy Murray 50/1
Women’s singles:
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Iga Swiatek 7/2
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Simona Halep 7/1
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Cori Gauff 12/1
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Aryna Sabalenka 14/1
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Emma Raducanu 16/1
Odds correct on August 25