NEW YORK (AP) Men to watch at the U.S. Open, which begins Monday:
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
Ranked/Seeded: 1/1
Age: 24
Country: Serbia
2011 Match Record: 57-2
2011 Singles Titles: 9
Career Singles Titles: 27
Major Titles: 3 - Wimbledon ('11), Australian Open ('08, '11)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '10-Lost in Final, '09-SF, '08-SF, '07-F, '06-3rd Round
Topspin: Win-loss record entering U.S. Open represents best start to a season for a men's tennis player since John McEnroe was 59-2 in 1984. ... One of Djokovic's two losses came in last pre-Open tuneup, when he retired because of painful right shoulder while trailing Andy Murray at the Cincinnati Masters. ... Other loss came in French Open semifinals against Roger Federer, Djokovic's possible semifinal foe in New York.
RAFAEL NADAL
Ranked/Seeded: 2/2
Age: 25
Country: Spain
2011 Match Record: 53-10
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 U.S. Opens: '10-Won Championship, '09-SF, '08-SF, '07-4th, '06-QF
Topspin: Returns to New York as defending champion for the first time after completing career Grand Slam in 2010. ... At French Open, became second-youngest man to win his 10th Grand Slam title. ... 0-5 against Djokovic this year, all in finals, including at Wimbledon in July.
ROGER FEDERER
Ranked/Seeded: 3/3
Age: 30
Country: Switzerland
2011 Match Record: 42-11
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 U.S. Opens: '10-SF, '09-F, '08-W, '07-W, '06-W
Topspin: Run of eight seasons in a row with at least one Grand Slam title in jeopardy. ... Won five consecutive U.S. Open championships before his streak ended with a loss against Juan Martin del Potro in 2009 final; then lost in semifinals against Djokovic a year ago. ... Is 56-6 for his career at Flushing Meadows. ... Reached at least the quarterfinals at a record 29 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments. ... This is Federer's first Grand Slam tournament in his 30s; his birthday was Aug. 8.
ANDY MURRAY
Ranked/Seeded: 4/4
Age: 24
Country: Britain
2011 Match Record: 34-10
2011 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 18
Major Titles: 0 - Best: F, at U.S. Open in '08, Australian Open in '10, '11
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '10-3rd, '09-4th, '08-F, '07-3rd, '06-4th
Topspin: 0-3 in Grand Slam finals as he tries to give Britain its first male champion at a major since Fred Perry in 1936. ... Terrific return of serve is a big advantage against most players on hard courts. ... Calls U.S. Open his favorite Grand Slam tournament.
MARDY FISH
Ranked/Seeded: 8/8
Age: 29
Country: United States
2011 Match Record: 36-17
2011 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 6
Major Titles: 0 - Best: QF, at U.S. Open in '08, at Wimbledon in '11, at Australian Open in '07
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '10-4th, '09-Did Not Play, '08-QF, '07-2nd, '06-2nd
Topspin: Heads to the U.S. Open as the highest-seeded American for the first time. ... Has played well on summer hard-court circuit, including pushing Djokovic to three sets in final of Montreal Masters. ... 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.
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO
Ranked/Seeded: 18/18
Age: 22
Country: Argentina
2011 Match Record: 38-12
2011 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 9
Major Titles: 1 - U.S. Open ('09)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '10-DNP, '09-W, '08-QF, '07-3rd, '06-1st
Topspin: Wasn't able to defend his U.S. Open title last year, when he missed most of the season with a wrist injury. ... Massive forehand and serve give him a chance against anyone in a hard-court match.