Men to watch at Wimbledon, which begins Monday:
RAFAEL NADAL
Ranked/Seeded: 1/1
Age: 25
Country: Spain
2011 Match Record: 45-7
2011 Singles Titles: 3
Career Singles Titles: 46
Major Titles: 10 - Wimbledon ('08, '10), Australian Open ('09), French Open ('05, '06, '07, '08, '10, '11), U.S. Open ('10)
Last 5 Wimbledons: '10-Won Championship, '09-Did Not Play, '08-W, '07-Lost in Final, '06-F
Topspin: Has won 26 of his last 28 matches at Wimbledon, with the only losses coming against Roger Federer in the 2006 and 2007 finals. Won the tournament the past two times he entered; Nadal withdrew in 2009 because of tendinitis in both knees, making him only the second men's champion in 35 years to decline to defend his Wimbledon title. ... At French Open, became second-youngest man to win his 10th Grand Slam title.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
Ranked/Seeded: 2/2
Age: 24
Country: Serbia
2011 Match Record: 41-1
2011 Singles Titles: 7
Career Singles Titles: 25
Major Titles: 2 - Australian Open ('08, '11)
Last 5 Wimbledons: '10-SF, '09-QF, '08-2nd, '07-SF, '06-4th
Topspin: Halfway through the season, only has one loss, but it was in his most recent match, against Roger Federer in the French Open semifinals. That snapped Djokovic's 43-match winning streak, dating to the Davis Cup final in December. ... Right after that defeat, Djokovic pulled out of the Queen's Club tuneup tournament on grass, citing a knee injury. ... Says he feels better than he ever has entering Wimbledon, ``because of the confidence that I have'' thanks to his start to this season.
ROGER FEDERER
Ranked/Seeded: 3/3
Age: 29
Country: Switzerland
2011 Match Record: 34-8
2011 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 67
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: '10-QF, '09-W, '08-F, '07-W, '06-W
Topspin: Has won six Wimbledon championships; trying to join Pete Sampras and Willie Renshaw (who played in the 1800s) as the only men to win seven singles titles at the tournament. ... While some players have trouble making the transition from clay, Federer says: ``It feels so natural for me to play on grass.'' ... Has reached at least the quarterfinals at a record 28 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments. ... This will be last Grand Slam tournament for Federer before he turns 30 on Aug. 8.
ANDY MURRAY
Ranked/Seeded: 4/4
Age: 24
Country: Britain
2011 Match Record: 22-8
2011 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 17
Major Titles: 0 - Best: F, at U.S. Open in '08, Australian Open in '10, '11
Last 5 Wimbledons: '10-SF, '09-SF, '08-QF, '07-DNP, '06-4th
Topspin: Won Queen's Club tuneup tournament on grass. ... 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. ... Leads the ATP in percentage of first-serve return points won. ... Overcame an injured right ankle to reach French Open semifinals; said Saturday the ankle ``feels good; had no problems with it in practice the last few days.''
ANDY RODDICK
Ranked/Seeded: 10/8
Age: 28
Country: United States
2011 Match Record: 19-7
2011 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 30
Major Titles: 1 - U.S. Open ('03)
Last 5 Wimbledons: '10-4th, '09-F, '08-2nd, '07-QF, '06-3rd
Topspin: Missed the French Open with a right shoulder injury, but played well on return at Queen's Club. ... A three-time runner-up at Wimbledon, losing in the final to Federer each time, including 16-14 in the fifth set in 2009. It was, in terms of games, the longest match and longest fifth set in Grand Slam final history, topping marks set in 1927.