Skysports.com caught up with Elena Baltacha as she prepares to make her Flushing Meadows debut.
British number one tipping Murray and Wozniacki to reign in New York
Ahead of this year's US Open,
skysports.com caught up with British number one Elena Baltacha as she prepares to make her Flushing Meadows debut.
Ukrainian-born player Baltacha has qualified for all four of this year's majors on her ranking - currently 54 - and she kicks off her New York campaign against Croatian teenager Petra Martic on Monday.
How does it feel to have qualified for the US Open through your ranking rather than going through qualifying?
"It feels great. Grand Slam qualifying is really, really tough and the difference between making it and losing in the last round - like I did the last two years - is massive. I've seen a lot of tense faces on girls in the locker room over the last few days and I really don't envy them. Everything is different when you're in the main draw. It's little things like being able to get a car to the site instead of the bus and some of the privileges you get, plus you can relax and prepare the way you want to without having to worry about playing matches."
How excited are you to be playing in the main draw at Flushing Meadows for the first time?
"Very excited. Like I said, I lost in the last round of qualifiers the last two years and it was horrible so this is a lot nicer! Also, I've got direct entry into the main draw of all four Grand Slams on my ranking this year and that's something I can be proud of. "
You play Petra Martic in round one, you will no doubt be looking for revenge following your defeat to her at Wimbledon?
"Definitely. That was a really, really difficult loss because I got myself into a winning position and then the occasion got to me and I got a bit tight and let her back into the match. I really want to try and put that right but Petra still had to win that match and she played really well in the third set so I know that she'll be dangerous. You'd have to be mad to take anyone lightly at a tournament like this one. "
You received a lot of criticism following that Wimbledon defeat. Do you think that was justified?
"I tried to be pretty honest at the time about what happened in that match because there isn't a lot else you can do when something like that happens. I lost the match from being in a winning position and you have to take responsibility for what went wrong and then try and do better next time. It happens. I'm human and I got a bit tight at the wrong time. I can understand people having a pop though. It's Wimbledon. You're always in the spotlight there and that just comes with the territory."
This year's US Open women's draw looks as wide open as it has ever been. Who are you tipping to go all the way?
"I've said before that I think Caroline Wozniacki is my pick and I'm sticking with that. She's been in the form of her life this summer - she just won New Haven which is her third tournament in a few weeks - so I like her chances here."
What will be deemed a successful tournament for you personally?
"I'll be delighted if I perform well against Martic and that's the only thing I'm thinking about right now. I want to try and produce a good performance against Martic and I think if I perform really well then I think I've got a good chance."
And a word on Andy Murray. This is undoubtedly his favourite tournament - how do you rate his chances and will you be cheering him court-side?
"I'll definitely be cheering for him. He's played unbelievably well this summer and I know he really loves playing in New York, with all the noise and the colour and the atmosphere you get here. He's my pick for the men's title and I really, really hope that I'm right because I'd be chuffed for him as a person and also because I think it would give the whole country a big lift."
