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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