"I'll prepare myself the best way possible, so that I will have the best chance to really excel there in New York"
Thursday 24 August 2017 17:13, UK
The great Roger Federer says it would be "totally surreal" if he could win his third Grand Slam of year at the US Open.
Since returning from a six-month hiatus in January, the 36-year-old Swiss has been in stupendous form. He is 35-3 with five titles this season, including the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
But there will be question marks hanging over Federer's health when back pain appeared to limit his mobility during the Montreal Masters final earlier this month, where he fell in straight sets to 20-year-old German Alexander Zverev.
It was only the third time Federer had lost a match this year and as a result, the 19-time major champion opted to skip the Cincinnati Masters to tend to the injury.
I know it's just only bonus, whatever is about to come, so I hope I can keep this level up and then maybe good things can continue. We'll see
He will need to be at 100 per cent to compete at Flushing Meadows in the gruelling best-of-five-set tournament, where scorching heat and suffocating humidity are the norm.
"I mean, I have a hard time thinking I could win three Slams in one year. It just sounds totally surreal to me," Federer said. "But I'll prepare myself the best way possible, so that I will have the best chance to really excel there in New York.
"I like the way I'm playing. I'm playing going forward. I'm going for it. I'm not holding back. I'm playing the kind of tennis I like to play, personally, myself. And I'm not, like, doing everything only for success. I'm actually letting it fly off my racket. And that makes me happy.
"People who've been waiting for me to come back strong, maybe one more time, I've given them even more now by winning a couple of Slams this year. So it's extremely special times. I'm aware of that.
"I know it's just only bonus, whatever is about to come, so I hope I can keep this level up and then maybe good things can continue. We'll see."
Sky Sports Tennis will have all the action from the US Open covered via our website sky.mnosports.com/tennis with our live blogs and updates throughout the fortnight as the Grand Slam year reaches its climax.
On the move? Head to our app for mobile devices and iPad, or follow our Twitter account @SkySportsTennis to join in the conversation. Who will win the US Open titles this year? Have your say...
We will also have coverage of the World Tour Finals in November with every match live on Sky Sports.
