PARIS (AP) - Men to watch at the French Open, where play begins Sunday:
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
Ranked: 1
Age: 25
Country: Serbia
2012 Match Record: 30-5
2012 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 30
Major Titles: 5 _ Australian Open (’08, `11, `12), Wimbledon (’11), U.S. Open (’11)
Last 5 French Opens: `11-Lost in Semifinals, `10-QF, `09-3rd Round, `08-SF, `07-SF
Topspin: Winner of the past three Grand Slam tournaments and aiming to be the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win four in a row. … Also trying to become the eighth man with a career Grand Slam. … Was 41-0 in 2011 _ the best start since John McEnroe began 42-0 in 1984 _ before losing to Roger Federer in French Open semifinals. They were drawn to meet in the semifinals again this year. … Never been to the final at Roland Garros.
RAFAEL NADAL
Ranked: 2
Age: 25 (turns 26 on June 3)
Country: Spain
2012 Match Record: 33-4
2012 Singles Titles: 3
Career Singles Titles: 49
Major Titles: 10 _ French Open (’05, `06, `07, `08, `10, `11), Wimbledon (’08, `10), U.S. Open (’10), Australian Open (’09)
Last 5 French Opens: `11-Won Championship, `10-W, `09-4th, `08-W, `07-W
Topspin: Career record at French Open is 45-1; only loss came in fourth round in 2009 to Robin Soderling, who withdrew from the tournament this year. … Can set record with seventh French Open championship this year; is tied with Bjorn Borg with six. … After losing seven consecutive matches to Djokovic, all in finals _ including at the last three Grand Slam tournaments _ beat the Serb in their last two meetings, at Monte Carlo and Rome.
ROGER FEDERER
Ranked: 3
Age: 30
Country: Switzerland
2012 Match Record: 31-4
2012 Singles Titles: 4
Career Singles Titles: 74
Major Titles: 16 _ French Open (’09), Wimbledon (’03, `04, `05, `06, `07, `09), U.S. Open (’04, `05, `06, `07, `08), Australian Open (’04, `06, `07, `10)
Last 5 French Opens: `11-F, `10-QF, `09-W, `08-F, `07-F
Topspin: Needs two match wins to break Jimmy Connors’ Open era Grand Slam record of 233. Federer enters the French Open at 232-35. … Owns record 16 Grand Slam singles titles but has gone more than two years without one, by far his longest drought since he won his first at Wimbledon in 2003. … Briefly moved past longtime rival Nadal and up to No. 2 in the rankings before dropping back again.
ANDY MURRAY
Ranked: 4
Age: 25
Country: Britain
2012 Match Record: 22-7
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 French Opens: `11-SF, `10-4th, `09-QF, `08-’3rd, `07-Did Not Play
Topspin: Semifinalist or better at the last five Grand Slam tournaments. … There hasn’t been a British male champion at a major tennis tournament since Fred Perry won the U.S. championship in 1936. … Is 0-3 in major finals.
DAVID FERRER
Ranked: 6
Age: 30
Country: Spain
2012 Match Record: 33-7
2012 Singles Titles: 3
Career Singles Titles: 14
Major Titles: Major Titles: 0 _ Best: SF, at U.S. Open in `07, Australian Open in `11
Last 5 French Opens: `11-4th `10-3rd, `09-3rd, `08-QF, `07-3rd
Topspin: Five of his seven losses this season were to Djokovic, Nadal or Federer. … Ranks fourth on the ATP World Tour this season in break-point conversion (48 percent) and points won on first-serve returns (37 percent).
TOMAS BERDYCH
Ranked: 7
Age: 26
Country: Czech Republic
2012 Match Record: 28-8
2012 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 7
Major Titles: Major Titles: 0 _ Best: F, at Wimbledon in `10
Last 5 French Opens: `11-1st, `10-SF, `09-1st, `08-2nd, `07-1st
Topspin: As inconsistent as can be at Roland Garros, he looked like a title contender in 2010, and then bowed out in the first round last year by wasting a two-set lead against a French qualifier ranked 140th. … Tough to dismiss him, though, given the powerful strokes that carried him to a final on clay at Madrid this month.
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO
Ranked: 9
Age: 23
Country: Argentina
2012 Match Record: 33-8
2012 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 11
Major Titles: Major Titles: 1 _ U.S. Open (’09)
Last 5 French Opens: `11-3rd, `10-DNP, `09-SF, `08-2nd, `07-1st
Topspin: With a big serve and forehand, and 6-foot-6 worth of court coverage, was thought to be a rising star before wrist surgery sidetracked him. Appears to be rounding back into shape now. … Threw a scare into Federer at Paris in the semifinals in 2009, the year the Swiss star won his only French Open title.
JOHN ISNER
Ranked: 11
Age: 27
Country: United States
2012 Match Record: 22-10
2012 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 3
Major Titles: Major Titles: 0 _ Best: QF, at U.S. Open in `11
Last 5 French Opens: `11-1st, `10-3rd, `09-DNP, `08-1st, `07-DNP
Topspin: The 6-foot-9 American is second on the ATP World Tour with 392 aces this season (Milos Raonic leads with 426). … Career record at Roland Garros is only 2-3, but in the first round in 2011 came close to becoming only second man to beat Nadal at the French Open, pushing him to five sets on Court Philippe Chatrier. … Has lost four of past six tournament matches.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.