- Associated Press - Saturday, August 25, 2012

Men to watch at the U.S. Open, which begins Monday:

ROGER FEDERER

Seeded: 1

Age: 31

Country: Switzerland

2012 Match Record: 56-7

2012 Singles Titles: 6

Career Singles Titles: 76

Major Titles: 17 _ U.S. Open (’04, `05, `06, `07, `08), Wimbledon (’03, `04, `05, `06, `07, `09, `12), Australian Open (’04, `06, `07, `10), French Open (’09),

Last 5 U.S. Opens: `11-Lost in Semifinals, `10-SF, `09-F, `08-Won Championship, `07-W

Topspin: Won five consecutive U.S. Open championships _ and 40 matches in a row at Flushing Meadows _ before his streak ended with a loss against Juan Martin del Potro in 2009 final; then lost in semifinals against Novak Djokovic each of past two years. … Playing in 52nd consecutive Grand Slam tournament, longest active streak. … Reached at least the quarterfinals at a record 33 consecutive majors. … Leads ATP World Tour with six titles in 2012.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC

Seeded: 2

Age: 25

Country: Serbia

2012 Match Record: 54-10

2012 Singles Titles: 3

Career Singles Titles: 31

Major Titles: 5 _ U.S. Open (’11), Wimbledon (’11), Australian Open (’08, `11, `12)

Last 5 U.S. Opens: `11-W, `10-F, `09-SF, `08-SF, `07-F

Topspin: 29-4 at Flushing Meadows over past five years, including first U.S. Open championship a year ago, after erasing match points against Federer in semifinals. … Having a very good season in 2012, but nothing like the masterpiece he produced last year, when he entered the U.S. Open with a 57-2 record and nine titles. … Finalist at six of the past eight Grand Slam tournaments, winning four of those titles.

ANDY MURRAY

Seeded: 3

Age: 25

Country: Britain

2012 Match Record: 40-11

2012 Singles Titles: 2

Career Singles Titles: 23

Major Titles: 0 _ Best: F, at U.S. Open (’08), Australian Open (’10, `11), Wimbledon (’12)

Last 5 U.S. Opens: `11-SF, `10-3rd, `09-4th, `08-F, `07-3rd

Topspin: 0-4 in Grand Slam finals as he tries to give Britain its first male champion at any major tournament since Fred Perry at the 1936 U.S. Championships. … Gold medal at London Olympics, beating Federer in final at Wimbledon’s Centre Court, could be breakthrough he needed. … Top return of serve is a big advantage against most players on hard courts. … Has long deemed U.S. Open his favorite Grand Slam tournament.

DAVID FERRER

Seeded: 4

Age: 30

Country: Spain

2012 Match Record: 53-11

2012 Singles Titles: 5

Career Singles Titles: 16

Major Titles: 0 _ Best: SF, at U.S. Open (’07), at Australian Open (’11), at French Open (’12)

Last 5 U.S. Opens: `11-4th, `10-4th, `09-2nd, `08-3rd, `07-SF

Topspin: Indefatigable; rare instance of tennis player getting better at age 30. … With 11-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal sidelined by knee problems, Ferrer gets top-four seeding. … Federer’s assessment: “Ferrer deserves a lot of credit because he’s always there and he hangs around and goes deep now on all surfaces. He’s become extremely good on the hard courts.”

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA

Seeded: 5

Age: 27

Country: France

2012 Match Record: 37-15 (Playing at Winston-Salem Open)

2012 Singles Titles: 1

Career Singles Titles: 8

Major Titles: 0 _ Best: F, at Australian Open (’08)

Last 5 U.S. Opens: `11-QF, `10-Did Not Play, `09-4th, `08-3rd, `07-3rd

Topspin: Lost in five sets to Djokovic in French Open quarterfinals, lost in four sets to Murray in Wimbledon semifinals. … Big serve and forehand should make him more of a threat than he’s been so far on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows, where his best showing is last year’s quarterfinal appearance, ending with a loss to Federer. … Could meet Murray in quarterfinals this time.

JOHN ISNER

Seeded: 9

Age: 27

Country: United States

2012 Match Record: 36-15 (Playing at Winston-Salem Open)

2012 Singles Titles: 1

Career Singles Titles: 4

Major Titles: 0 _ Best: QF, at U.S. Open in (’11)

Last 5 U.S. Opens: `11-QF, `10-3rd, `09-4th, `08-1st, `07-3rd

Topspin: Leads tour in aces in 2012. … The 6-foot-9 big server has taken a step backward at the Grand Slam tournaments this season, losing in third round at Australian Open, second round at French Open and first round at Wimbledon. … No American man has won a Grand Slam tennis title since Andy Roddick in New York in 2003; it’s the country’s longest drought.

MILOS RAONIC

Seeded: 15

Age: 21

Country: Canada

2012 Match Record: 33-14

2012 Singles Titles: 2

Career Singles Titles: 3

Major Titles: 0 _ Best: 4th, at Australian Open (’11)

Last 5 U.S. Opens: `11-DNP, `10-1st, `09-DNP, `08-DNP, `07-DNP

Topspin: Leads ATP World Tour this season in percentage of service games won (93) and percentage of first-serve points won (83); ranks second to Isner in total aces. … At 6-foot-5, and armed with that powerful serve, Raonic often mentioned by Federer, others as up-and-coming player to watch out for. … In seven career Grand Slam appearances, only once made it past the third round.

ANDY RODDICK

Seeded: 20

Age: 29 (Turns 30 on Wednesday)

Country: United States

2012 Match Record: 20-15

2012 Singles Titles: 2

Career Singles Titles: 32

Major Titles: 1 _ U.S. Open (’03)

Last 5 U.S. Opens: `11-QF, `10-2nd, `09-3rd, `08-QF, `07-QF

Topspin: Comes in having lost three of past four matches, all on hard courts. … Drawn for possible fourth-round match against 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro, quarterfinal against Djokovic. … Slowed quite a bit this season by a series of injuries. Question is whether he has one last serious run in him at a major tournament. … Big serve and forehand, plus plenty of support from the partisan crowds, make him a tough out on the hard courts in New York, particularly during night sessions.

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