US Open 2023: Andy Murray 'playing best’ since hip operation

Andy Murray's past gathering with Grigor Dimitrov (left) came erstwhile the Briton (right) triumphed successful the last of the 2016 China Open

Andy Murray believes helium is playing his champion tennis since a career-saving hep cognition arsenic helium prepares to look aged rival Grigor Dimitrov successful the US Open 2nd round.

Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans, Jack Draper, Katie Boulter and Jodie Burrage besides play connected time 4 of the tournament.

"I'm astatine my highest ranking (37) since I had my metallic hep enactment in," Murray said.

"I'm blessed with that. It's not been an casual journey. I would similar to beryllium ranked higher but this is the champion I've played consistently since 2017."

Murray has not faced 19th effect Dimitrov since 2016 and though the Scot has won 8 of their 11 erstwhile meetings, helium mislaid their astir high-profile lucifer successful the 2014 Wimbledon quarter-finals.

Bulgarian Dimitrov is besides employing 2 coaches who spent agelong and palmy spells moving with Murray - Britain's Jamie Delgado and Venezuelan Dani Vallverdu.

"I've played rather a batch of matches against ex-coaches - I deliberation I've lone mislaid once," said the three-time large champion, who won his maiden Grand Slam rubric successful New York successful 2012.

"I mean, it astir apt should beryllium a large vantage for him to person 2 guys that person worked with maine implicit the years. But we'll find out."

Murray and Dimitrov unfastened up Thursday's enactment connected Arthur Ashe Stadium astatine 17:00 BST.

Alcaraz signifier aiding Norrie quest

Cameron Norrie (right) has beaten Carlos Alcaraz (left) doubly successful their past 3 meetings, including a last connected clay successful Rio this year, but trails their wide head-to-head 4-2

British fig 1 Norrie has been enlisting the precise champion connected the signifier courts successful his bid to assertion a archetypal Grand Slam rubric aft a disappointing 2023 truthful acold - hitting balls with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.

The 2 could conscionable successful the past 16 but some person 2 matches to negociate earlier then, with Norrie adjacent taking connected Taiwanese qualifier and satellite fig 237 Hsu Yu-hsiou.

"I'm ever practising oregon trying to play with the champion players," said Norrie, who has not made it past the 3rd circular of immoderate Grand Slam this year.

"I truly bask playing points with Carlos. You benignant of provender disconnected that energy."

Alcaraz meets South Africa's Lloyd Harris successful the nighttime league connected Arthur Ashe Stadium astatine 00:00 BST - with the victor facing British fig 2 Evans oregon Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp successful circular three.

On paper, Draper, who precocious returned from a enarthrosis wounded that forced him to miss the French Open and Wimbledon, has the hardest task of the British men arsenic helium meets Polish 17th effect Hubert Hurkacz.

But helium says days similar Tuesday, erstwhile the six Britons successful singles enactment each won, enactment arsenic motivation.

"Definitely having different Brits bash good successful the gully is astonishing for British tennis - we tin each propulsion each different to beryllium better," the 21-year-old said.

"I've ever got connected good with Cam, Andy, Dan. Those guys person been unthinkable relation models for maine and bully support. I'm conscionable precise fortunate to person them, I suppose."

Boulter and Burrage flying women's emblem

Qualifier Lily Mizayaki's decision by Belinda Bencic connected Wednesday leaves Britain with 2 players remaining successful the women's draw.

Jodie Burrage has been rewarded with her first-round triumph with a spot connected 1 of the amusement courts arsenic she tackles satellite fig 2 Aryna Sabalenka 2nd up connected Louis Armstrong Stadium.

"It's a monolithic match. Probably 1 of the biggest ones successful my career," the 23-year-old, whose vocation has been plagued by injuries, said.

"But if you said to maine erstwhile I was having that 3rd ankle operation, 'carry on, you'll beryllium winning your archetypal main-draw US Open match, your archetypal Wimbledon lucifer this twelvemonth and breaking into the apical 100', I don't deliberation I would person believed you really."

Boulter has a kinder gully arsenic she faces China's Wang Yafan, who shocked seventh effect Caroline Garcia successful circular one.

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