Men to watch at the French Open, where play begins Sunday:
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
Ranked: 1
Age: 28 (Turns 29 on Sunday)
Country: Serbia
2016 Match Record: 37-3
2016 Singles Titles: 5
Career Singles Titles: 64
Major Titles: 11 — Australian Open (’08, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’15, ’16), Wimbledon (’11, ’14, ’15), U.S. Open (’11, ’15)
Last 5 French Opens: ’15-Lost in Final, ’14-F, ’13-SF, ’12-F, ’11-SF
Topspin: Winning the French Open would give him four consecutive major championships, something no man has done since Rod Laver won a true Grand Slam in 1969. … Title at Roland Garros would make him eighth man with career Grand Slam. … Jim Courier in 1992 was last man to win Australian Open, French Open in same year. … This is 12th appearance at Roland Garros; the most attempts to win the title before doing so is 11. … 14-1 against top-10 opponents in 2016.
ANDY MURRAY
Ranked: 2
Age: 29
Country: Britain
2016 Match Record: 22-5
2016 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 36
Major Titles: 2 — Wimbledon (’13), U.S. Open (’12)
Last 5 French Opens: ’15-SF, ’14-SF, ’13-Did Not Play, ’12-QF, ’11-SF
Topspin: Victory over Novak Djokovic in Italian Open final gave him three clay-court titles in past two seasons and assured him of No. 2 seeding in Paris. … While his two Grand Slam titles came on faster surfaces — hard courts at the U.S. Open, grass courts at Wimbledon — Murray has shown he can compete with the best on slow clay, including three semifinal runs at Roland Garros in his last four appearances. … Recently split from coach Amelie Mauresmo; no permanent replacement has been named yet.
ROGER FEDERER
Ranked: 3
Age: 34
Country: Switzerland
2016 Match Record: 11-4
2016 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 88
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: ’15-QF, ’14-4th, ’13-QF, ’12-SF, ’11-F
Topspin: Been dealing with a back problem that has limited his schedule this season. … French Open would be his record-extending 66th consecutive Grand Slam appearance, a streak that includes every major this century. … Completed career Grand Slam by winning 2009 French Open. … Holds records of 17 major titles, 10 consecutive major finals, 302 total weeks at No. 1 in the ATP rankings.
STAN WAWRINKA
Ranked: 4
Age: 31
Country: Switzerland
2016 Match Record: 18-7 (Playing at Geneva this week)
2016 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 13
Major Titles: 2 — French Open (’15), Australian Open (’14)
Last 5 French Opens: ’15-Won Championship, ’14-1st, 13-QF, ’12-4th, ’11-4th
Topspin: A year ago, beat Roger Federer in the quarterfinals and Novak Djokovic in the final for his second Grand Slam title. … Became the first 30-or-older men’s champion in Paris since Andres Gomez in 1990. … Before entering tuneup tournament in Geneva, was only 3-3 on red clay this season and 3-5 in last eight matches overall.
RAFAEL NADAL
Ranked: 5
Age: 29 (turns 30 on June 3)
Country: Spain
2016 Match Record: 27-8
2016 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 69
Major Titles: 14 — French Open (’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14), Wimbledon (’08, ’10), U.S. Open (’10, ’13), Australian Open (’09)
Last 5 French Opens: ’15-QF, ’14-W, ’13-W, ’12-W, ’11-W
Topspin: 70-2 career record at Roland Garros. Only losses came in 2009’s fourth round against Robin Soderling, and in 2015’s quarterfinals against Novak Djokovic. … Only man with nine trophies from one Grand Slam tournament; only one with five in a row at French Open. … Career record on clay is 363-34, a .914 winning percentage; 49-9 in clay finals. … Won at least two European clay-court titles entering French Open in 10 of past 12 years (exceptions were 2014, 2015).
KEI NISHIKORI
Ranked: 6
Age: 26
Country: Japan
2016 Match Record: 29-9
2016 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 11
Major Titles: 0 — Best: F, U.S. Open (’14)
Last 5 French Opens: ’15-QF, ’14-1st, ’13-4th, ’12-DNP, ’11-2nd
Topspin: Has firmly established himself as a top-10 player but having trouble breaking through to next level: Past six losses were to Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray or Rafael Nadal. … Ranks fourth on tour in 2016 in percentage of break points saved, 69.
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