TENNIS in DEPTH.

Rafael Nadal will be bidding to land his first US Open title after adding the Australian Open title to his Wimbledon victory and four Roland Garros crowns.

“Well, I am No. 3 in the world. And the No. 3 in the world should have a chance to win, no?” Nadal told reporters at the Nike US Open kit launch on Wednesday. “But I don’t know if I arrive in best condition.”

“In New York I’ve never played at my best, that’s true,” he added. “Last year I did semi-finals – maybe last year was an opportunity for me to win this tournament, but I arrived too tired after a long season.

“This year I arrive, sure, fresher than ever, but I don’t know if that’s too fresh.”

However, he admitted feeling “much better” both physically and mentally than he had before Wimbledon.

The Spaniard believes the tendinitis would have had a bearing on his performance as both an impediment and a distraction, as he found himself thinking too much about his knees following his shock French Open fourth-round defeat to Robin Soderling.

“After an injury, sure, you think a little bit,” he said Wednesday. “But I am much better, I feel.”

Nadal reached the the semifinals at the US Open last year, and would love to complete his career slam, as Roger Federer did in his absence by winning his first French Open crown.

“It’s very special,” said Nadal. “I’ve won the other three, so if I win that it’s going to be a complete cycle,” he said. “It will be amazing.”

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