Andy Murray returns to Flushing Meadows to begin his US Open title defence as the season’s fourth and final Grand Slam takes place in Flushing Meadows, New York.
Sky Sports will show all 15 days of the year’s fourth and final Grand Slam, including the men’s and women’s singles finals exclusively live, while British Eurosport will screen the best of the action from the second-choice courts.
Last year’s tournament saw Andy Murray end Britain’s 76-year wait for a male Grand Slam singles champion with a sensational victory over Novak Djokovic.
The Scotsman came into the match having lost his previous four major finals and his determination to end that unwelcome run was
there for all to see.
He responded magnificently after throwing away a two-set lead, regaining his composure to dominate the fifth and decisive set and deny Djokovic the opportunity to become the first man since Pancho Gonzales in 1949 to win the US Open from two sets down.
Clearly a watershed moment in his career, Murray has since gone on to double his Grand Slam title tally with victory at this year’s Wimbledon.
He refused to wilt in the searing heat, instead turning in a stylish straight-sets display to see off Djokovic once more.
After winning at Wimbledon, Murray will now set his sights on defending his US Open crown and toppling Novak Djokovic as the world number one.
Without an Olympic tournament this year, the US Open will be the major target for all the top players between now and the end of the season.
Despite their early exits at Wimbledon, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will be amongst the favourites again in New York.
Since 2004, the duo have racked up six US Open titles between them and will pose a formidable threat again this year.
In the women’s draw, Serena Williams will be gunning for a fifth US Open crown after getting the better of Victoria Azarenka this time last year.
Williams won her fourth US Open title 12 months ago, and the first since 2008, by defeating the Belarusian in the final.
The prolific American displayed her trademark combination of precision and power to take the first set, but her Belarusian opponent hit back impressively in the second to set up the first women’s final to go to three sets since 1995.
Azarenka maintained her momentum in the third and even served for the match, but she couldn’t put her American adversary away.
A run of four straight games led Williams to lift the trophy for a fourth time, a full 13 years after she first tasted success at the tournament in 1999.
British duo Laura Robson and Heather Watson will also look to impress.
Robson’s performance was particularly notable last year when she reached the fourth round before being eliminated by Samantha Stosur.
She also reached the second week at this year’s Wimbledon after a memorable run to the fourth round at SW19.
British tennis fans will be hoping this performance is a sign of things to come from the 19-year-old as she goes into a Grand Slam as a seeded player for the first time in New York.
Robson has been named as the No 31 seed, which means that she is guaranteed to avoid any seeded opponents in the first two rounds.
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Sky Sports will have unrivalled coverage of the 2013 US Open, featuring live action from the first round to the finals.
Presenter Marcus Buckland and the Sky Sports team will again be on-location in New York to bring viewers the pick of each day’s matches as well as all the colour and atmosphere from inside the Flushing Meadows complex.
Sky Sports will have up to 12 hours of continuous live action during the first week of the tournament, plus exclusive live coverage of every night session on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
In addition to the featured match on the main channel, viewers can choose up to five additional matches on the outside courts by pressing the red button during the live coverage.
This feature is also available to Sky Sports subscribers online via Sky Sports Xtra.
Greg Rusedski and Annabel Croft will provided analysis and comment from the studio overlooking the Arthur Ashe Stadium court throughout the tournament.
Mark Petchey leads Sky Sports’ commentary team which also includes Barry Milns, Peter Fleming, Barry Cowan and Leif Shiras.
Great Britain Fed Cup captain Judy Murray is also part of Sky Sports’ coverage for the first time this year, plus former US Open champion Boris Becker will again join up with the team during the second week.
Extended highlights of the overnight action, plus a round-up of the day session matches, will be shown the following morning on Sky Sports, presented by George Gavin with studio analysis from Andrew Castle.
Sky Sports will continue to be the home of the US Open after signing a new TV deal with the USTA earlier this year, extending its rights agreement to 2015.
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British Eurosport will have live coverage from the second-choice courts at the US Open.
These are likely to feature some of world’s top players in their bid to become US Open champion.
Second pick matches are live on British Eurosport for the first nine days with delayed next day coverage from the quarter-finals onwards.
For the first time, Eurosport will bring live reactions and quotes from stars and experts from inside the stadium.
1988 US Open winner Mats Wilander and former champion Barbara Schette will be on-site to interview major players and experts.
Commentary will be provided by Simon Reed, David Mercer, Chris Bradnam, Frew McMillan and Jo Durie.
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LIVE: 4.00pm-12.30am British Eurosport Wednesday 28th August Day 3 – Men’s 1st & 2nd Round / Women’s 2nd Round LIVE: 4.00pm-4.00am Sky Sports 3 LIVE: 4.00pm-12.30am British Eurosport Thursday 29th August Day 4 – Men’s & Women’s 2nd Round LIVE: 4.00pm-4.00am Sky Sports 1 LIVE: 4.00pm-12.30am British Eurosport Friday 30th August Day 5 – Men’s 2nd Round & Women’s 3rd Round LIVE: 4.00pm-4.00am Sky Sports 3 LIVE: 4.00pm-12.30am British Eurosport Saturday 31st August Day 6 – Men’s & Women’s 3rd Round LIVE: 4.00pm-4.00am Sky Sports 3 LIVE: 4.45pm-1.00am British Eurosport Sunday 1st September Day 7 – Men’s 3rd Round & Women’s 4th Round LIVE: 4.00pm-4.00am Sky Sports 3 LIVE: 4.45pm-12.30am British Eurosport Monday 2nd September Day 8 – Men’s & Women’s 4th Round LIVE: 4.00pm-10.00pm Sky Sports 1 LIVE: 4.00pm-12.30am British Eurosport Tuesday 3rd September Day 9 – Men’s 4th Round & Women’s Quarter Finals LIVE: 4.00pm-10.00pm & 12.00am-4.00am Sky Sports 1 LIVE: 4.00pm-12.30am British Eurosport Wednesday 4th September Day 10 – Men’s & Women’s Quarter Finals LIVE: 4.00pm-10.00pm & 12.00am-4.00am Sky Sports 1 Thursday 5th September Day 11 – Men’s Quarter Finals LIVE: 4.00pm-10.00pm & 12.00am-4.00am Sky Sports 1 Friday 6th September Day 12 – Women’s Semi Finals LIVE: 5.00pm-10.00pm & 12.00am-4.00am Sky Sports 1 Saturday 7th September Day 13 – Men’s Semi Finals LIVE: 4.00pm-10.00pm Sky Sports 1 Sunday 8th September Day 14 – Women’s Final LIVE: 9.00pm-10.00pm Sky Sports 1 Monday 9th September Day 15 – Men’s Final LIVE: 9.45pm-1.30am Sky Sports 1 . .