Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal insisted Friday that they have no intention of loosening their grip on power despite the sport's ‘Big Four' slipping into the twilight of their careers. Murray, Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have carved up 46 of the last 53 majors between them. The physical cracks are starting to show — Djokovic and Nadal have been bothered by wrist problems in recent weeks while 35-year-old Federer has shut down his 2016 season due to a knee injury. But Murray, described by top 10 rival Kei Nishikori as ‘Ironman' for his battling run to the Olympic Games gold medal in Rio, says that at 29 years old, he is using his age as a motivating factor. "I'd imagine I'd be playing at this level for three, four more years, max," said Murray, the holder of three Grand Slam titles. "It's not easy to do that. I hope I'm still playing like this when I'm 38 years old, but it's pretty unlikely. "I'm actually using that as a positive that you have to make the most of every opportunity. It's a slightly different mentality to maybe when you're younger and like you feel like you have a bit more time on your side. "I want to make the most of every tournament I play in and try and win and achieve as much as I can the next few years." Nadal, a year older than both Djokovic and Murray at 30, has endured a catalogue of injury woes throughout his career, mostly involving his knees and wrists. His most recent left wrist problem forced a withdrawal midway through the French Open, kept him out of Wimbledon and prevented even practicing for two and a half months. But the Spaniard then went on a marathon run at the Olympics where he lost in the semifinals of the singles but won gold in the men's doubles. "The ‘Big Four' are getting older. But still Novak is No. 1, Andy No. 2," said 14-time major winner Nadal. "I got injured, but before the injury I was third in the race (for the Tour finals) and not very far from No. 2. "It's obvious that we will not be here forever but I think I can play to the level I had before my injury for the next three, four years." Djokovic, with 12 majors, believes that he remains at the peak of his powers despite a shock third round loss at Wimbledon at the hands of Sam Querrey, his earliest exit at a Slam in seven years. His win at the French Open in June allowed him to join Federer and Nadal as one of the few men to complete the career Grand Slam of all four majors. "I'm 29 and believe that I'm at a peak of my abilities as a tennis player," said the Serb. "I'll try to keep that peak as consistent and enduring as much as possible." Serena shoulders burden of history Serena Williams once again arrives at Flushing Meadows poised to rewrite the tennis record books — if her own troublesome right shoulder and increasingly emboldened rivals allow. The 34-year-old US superstar matched Steffi Graf's Open Era record of 22 Grand Slam singles titles with her triumph at Wimbledon in July. With a seventh US Open triumph she can break Graf's record, and continue her march toward Australian Margaret Court's all-time mark of 24 Grand Slam titles. She could also break Graf's record of 186 consecutive weeks atop the world rankings, and surpass Chris Evert for most US Open singles titles won in the Open Era. Williams's bid to retain her Olympic singles title ended in Rio de Janeiro this month when she was sent crashing out of the third round by Elina Svitolina. Williams was clearly hindered by the shoulder injury that had forced her out of the Montreal WTA tournament as she served up eight double faults and 37 unforced errors in the straight-set defeat. Since then she has withdrawn from her WTA title defence in Cincinnati, saying the inflammation in her shoulder "continues to be a challenge." If Williams isn't at full strength, Kerber is just one of the players poised to pounce. The German defeated Williams in the Australian Open final in January. Seeded second in New York, she is one of three players with a chance to seize the number one ranking if Williams falters. Third-seeded Spaniard Garbine Muguruza also has a shot at the top. Fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland has an outside chance at the world No. 1 ranking if she can claim her first Grand Slam title. — Agencies
