WIMBLEDON, ENGLAND (AP) - Men to watch at Wimbledon, which begins Monday:
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
Seeded: 1
Ranked: 1
Age: 25
Country: Serbia
2012 Match Record: 36-6
2012 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 30
Major Titles: 5 _ Wimbledon (’11), U.S. Open (’11), Australian Open (’08, `11, `12)
Last 5 Wimbledons: `11-Won Championship, `10-Lost in Semifinals, `09-QF, `08-2nd, `07-SF
Topspin: Defending champion at Wimbledon for the first time, and also making debut as No. 1-seeded player at the All England Club. … Aims to start a new Grand Slam winning streak after his 27-match run ended with a loss to Rafael Nadal in the French Open final. … Had won three consecutive major titles; fell one match short of becoming the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win four in a row.
RAFAEL NADAL
Seeded: 2
Ranked: 2
Age: 26
Country: Spain
2012 Match Record: 41-5
2012 Singles Titles: 4
Career Singles Titles: 50
Major Titles: 11 _ Wimbledon (’08, `10), U.S. Open (’10), Australian Open (’09), French Open (’05, `06, `07, `08, `10, `11, `12)
Last 5 Wimbledons: `11-Lost in Final, `10-W, `09-Did Not Play, `08-W, `07-F
Topspin: Ended a three-match losing streak in Grand Slam finals, all against Djokovic, by beating the Serb to win a record seventh French Open title this month. … Has reached the final each of the past five times he entered Wimbledon, taking the titles in 2008 and 2010. … After losing his Wimbledon title and No. 1 ranking to Djokovic a year ago, Nadal acknowledged he had a mental block against his new rival. But Nadal has won their past three head-to-head matches.
ROGER FEDERER
Seeded: 3
Ranked: 3
Age: 30
Country: Switzerland
2012 Match Record: 39-6
2012 Singles Titles: 4
Career Singles Titles: 74
Major Titles: 16 _ Wimbledon (’03, `04, `05, `06, `07, `09), U.S. Open (’04, `05, `06, `07, `08), Australian Open (’04, `06, `07, `10), French Open (’09)
Last 5 Wimbledons: `11-QF, `10-QF, `09-W, `08-F, `07-W
Topspin: Owns record 16 Grand Slam singles titles but has gone about 2 1/2 years without one, by far his longest drought since he won his first at Wimbledon in 2003. … Has won six Wimbledon championships; trying to join Pete Sampras and Willie Renshaw (who played in the 1880s) as the only men to win seven singles titles at the tournament. … Has reached at least the quarterfinals at a record 32 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments. … No man 30 or older has won a major title since Andre Agassi at the 2003 Australian Open.
ANDY MURRAY
Seeded: 4
Ranked: 4
Age: 25
Country: Britain
2012 Match Record: 26-9
2012 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 22
Major Titles: 0 _ Best: F, at U.S. Open in `08, Australian Open in `10, `11
Last 5 Wimbledons: `11-SF, `10-SF, `09-SF, `08-QF, `07-DNP
Topspin: Streak of reaching semifinals at five Grand Slam tournaments in a row ended with quarterfinal exit against David Ferrer at French Open. … Coached now by Ivan Lendl, who famously never won Wimbledon. … The Scot seems to thrive under _ not shy away from _ the tremendous scrutiny and pressure he’s subject to at the All England Club as Britain hopes for its first male champion at Wimbledon _ or any Grand Slam tennis tournament _ since 1936. … “In all sports, playing at home is viewed as being a huge advantage, whereas for some reason when it comes to Wimbledon everyone thinks it’s a bad thing. … I haven’t really found it that way,” Murray said Saturday.
JO-WILFRIED TSONGA
Seeded: 5
Ranked: 5
Age: 27
Country: France
2012 Match Record: 29-12
2012 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 8
Major Titles: Major Titles: 0 _ Best: F, at Australian Open in `08
Last 5 Wimbledons: `11-SF, `10-QF, `09-3rd, `08-DNP, `07-4th
Topspin: Upset Federer in quarterfinals en route to semifinal debut at Wimbledon last year. … Held four match points but failed to convert any in French Open quarterfinals against Djokovic this month. … Booming serve and forehand, along with court speed, give him the tools to succeed on grass courts. … Ranks eighth on tour this season in aces.
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO
Seeded: 9
Ranked: 9
Age: 23
Country: Argentina
2012 Match Record: 37-9
2012 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 11
Major Titles: Major Titles: 1 _ U.S. Open (’09)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ’11-4th, ’10-DNP, ’09-2nd, ’08-2nd, ’07-2nd
Topspin: With a powerful serve and flat forehand, and 6-foot-6 worth of court coverage, was thought to be a rising star before wrist surgery sidetracked him. Appeared to be rounding back into shape until knee slowed him at French Open, where he blew two-set lead against Federer. … Yet to produce a deep run at Wimbledon, but skills could take him far.
JOHN ISNER
Seeded: 11
Ranked: 10
Age: 27
Country: United States
2012 Match Record: 23-11
2012 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 3
Major Titles: Major Titles: 0 _ Best: QF, at U.S. Open in `11
Last 5 Wimbledons: ’11-2nd, ’10-2nd, ’09-DNP, ’08-1st, ’07-DNP
Topspin: The 6-foot-9 American ranks second on the ATP World Tour in aces this season (477). … Lost in the second round at the French Open, 18-16 in the fifth set _ not nearly as long as his record-breaking 70-68 victory in a fifth set against Nicolas Mahut in the first round at Wimbledon in 2010.
MILOS RAONIC
Seeded: 21
Ranked: 22
Age: 21
Country: Canada
2012 Match Record: 26-9
2012 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 3
Major Titles: Major Titles: 0 _ Best: 4th Round, at Australian Open in `11
Last 5 Wimbledons: ’11-2nd, ’10-DNP, ’09-DNP, ’08-DNP, ’07-DNP
Topspin: A player many point to as the next big thing in tennis, because of his serve and size (6-feet-5). … Federer’s take on Raonic: “Still maybe looking, at times, for consistency, but I think he can go deep in almost in any Slam. Obviously, with that serve, anything is possible.” … Leads ATP World Tour in four key serving categories this season: aces (533 in 35 matches, an average of 15.2); percentage of service games won (94); percentage of first-serve points won (83); percentage of break points saved (76). … Born in Montenegro, moved with his family to Canada at age 3. … Coached by former player Galo Blanco.
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