PARIS (AP) - Men to watch at the French Open, where play begins Sunday:
RAFAEL NADAL
Ranked: 1
Age: 27 (turns 28 on June 3)
Country: Spain
2014 Match Record: 34-6
2014 Singles Titles: 3
Career Singles Titles: 63
Major Titles: 13 - French Open (’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13), Wimbledon (’08, ’10), U.S. Open (’10, ’13), Australian Open (’09)
Last 5 French Opens: ’13-Won Championship, ’12-W, ’11-W, ’10-W, ’09-Lost in 4th Round
Topspin: Career record at French Open is 59-1 with eight titles; only loss came in fourth round in 2009 to Robin Soderling. … Trying to become only man with nine trophies from one Grand Slam tournament and first with five in a row at Roland Garros. … Enters with three losses on clay in 2014, the most he’s had in a single season since way back in 2004.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
Ranked: 2
Age: 27
Country: Serbia
2014 Match Record: 24-3
2014 Singles Titles: 3
Career Singles Titles: 44
Major Titles: 6 - Australian Open (’08, ’11, ’12, ’13), Wimbledon (’11), U.S. Open (’11)
Last 5 French Opens: ’13-SF, ’12-F, ’11-SF, ’10-QF, ’09-3rd Round
Topspin: Semifinalist five of last seven years. … Lost to Nadal in 2012 final, 2013 semifinals. … Needs French Open title to complete career Grand Slam. … Sidelined for part of clay season with right wrist injury but victory over Nadal in Rome final showed Djokovic is ready. … Donated and raised more than $1 million for victims of floods that killed at least 45 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless in Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia.
STAN WAWRINKA
Ranked: 3
Age: 29
Country: Switzerland
2014 Match Record: 21-5
2014 Singles Titles: 3
Career Singles Titles: 7
Major Titles: 1 - Australian Open (’14)
Last 5 French Opens: ’13-QF, ’12-4th, ’11-4th, ’10-4th, ’09-3rd
Topspin: Won first Grand Slam title in January, after reaching first major semifinal at U.S. Open in September. … 6-0 record this year against opponents ranked in the top 10. … Won his first Masters title at Monte Carlo in April on red clay, beating countryman, pal and 2008 Olympic gold medal doubles partner Roger Federer in the final. … Coached by Magnus Norman, who was working with Soderling when the Swede upset Nadal in Paris.
ROGER FEDERER
Ranked: 4
Age: 32
Country: Switzerland
2014 Match Record: 28-6
2014 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 78
Major Titles: 17 - French Open (’09), Wimbledon (’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’09, ’12), U.S. Open (’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08), Australian Open (’04, ’06, ’07, ’10)
Last 5 French Opens: ’13-QF, ’12-SF, ’11-F, ’10-QF, ’09-W
Topspin: Oldest man seeded in top four at French Open since 33-year-old Andre Agassi was No. 2 in 2003. … Recently became father of twin boys, Lenny and Leo, who join his 4-year-old twin daughters. … In first tournament back after sons were born, lost opening match on clay in Rome. … First time he’s been the second-highest-ranked Swiss man at a Grand Slam tournament since the 2000 U.S. Open, when he was behind Marc Rosset. … Completed career Grand Slam by winning 2009 French Open.
DAVID FERRER
Ranked: 5
Age: 32
Country: Spain
2014 Match Record: 27-10
2014 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 21
Major Titles: Major Titles: 0 - Best: F, at French Open (’13)
Last 5 French Opens: ’13-F, ’12-SF, ’11-4th ’10-3rd, ’09-3rd
Topspin: After going 0-5 in Grand Slam semifinals, finally made his breakthrough and reached a major title match at Roland Garros a year ago, before losing to Nadal in straight sets. … Earned his first win against Nadal on clay in a decade by beating him in the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters in April. … Has won a tour-leading 36 percent of his return games this season.
TOMAS BERDYCH
Ranked: 6
Age: 28
Country: Czech Republic
2014 Match Record: 27-8
2014 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 9
Major Titles: Major Titles: 0 - Best: F, at Wimbledon (’10)
Last 5 French Opens: ’13-1st, ’12-4th, ’11-1st, ’10-SF, ’09-1st
Topspin: Difficult to know which Berdych will show up at Roland Garros - the guy who looked like a title contender while reaching the 2010 semifinals or the one who lost in the first round three of the past five years. … When his serve is on, it can be among the best on tour, and he ranks fourth on tour in 2014 by winning 79 percent of first-serve points.
ANDY MURRAY
Ranked: 8
Age: 27
Country: Britain
2014 Match Record: 21-9
2014 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 28
Major Titles: 2 - Wimbledon (’13), U.S. Open (’12)
Last 5 French Opens: ’13-Did Not Play, ’12-QF, ’11-SF, ’10-4th, ’09-QF
Topspin: Still looking to find his footing - and a new coach - since splitting with Ivan Lendl in March. … While his two Grand Slam titles came on fast surfaces - hard courts at the U.S. Open, grass at Wimbledon - Murray has shown he can compete with the best on slow clay, reaching at least the quarterfinals in three of his past four French Open appearances.
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