Men to watch at Wimbledon, which begins Monday:
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
Seeded: 1
Age: 27
Country: Serbia
2014 Match Record: 30-4
2014 Singles Titles: 3
Career Singles Titles: 44
Major Titles: 6 - Wimbledon ('11), U.S. Open ('11), Australian Open ('08, `11, `12, `13)
Last 5 Wimbledons: `13-Lost in Final, `12-SF, `11-Won Championship, `10-SF, `09-QF
Topspin: Third year in a row seeded No. 1 at the All England Club; was elevated from No. 2 ranking based on grass-court results, including runner-up showing at Wimbledon in 2013. ... Has made it to the semifinals or better each of the last four years, including winning the title in 2011. ... Has a chance to overtake Rafael Nadal at No. 1 in the rankings by the end of the tournament.
RAFAEL NADAL
Seeded: 2
Age: 28
Country: Spain
2014 Match Record: 41-7
2014 Singles Titles: 4
Career Singles Titles: 64
Major Titles: 14 - Wimbledon ('08, `10), U.S. Open ('10, `13), Australian Open ('09), French Open ('05, `06, `07, `08, `10, `11, `12, `13, `14)
Last 5 Wimbledons: `13-1st, `12-2nd, `11-F, `10-W, `09-Did Not Play
Topspin: After reaching the final in five consecutive appearances at Wimbledon, including titles in 2008 and 2010, has bowed out in the second round (against 100th-ranked Lukas Rosol), then the first round (against 135th-ranked Steve Darcis). ... Add in an opening loss on grass at Halle, Germany, this month, and Nadal takes a three-match losing streak on the surface into Wimbledon. ... Leads the tour with 41 match wins and four titles, including his record-extending ninth at the French Open two weeks ago.
ANDY MURRAY
Seeded: 3
Age: 27
Country: Britain
2014 Match Record: 27-11
2014 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 28
Major Titles: 2 - Wimbledon ('13), U.S. Open ('12)
Last 5 Wimbledons: `13-W, `12-F, `11-SF, `10-SF, `09-SF
Topspin: Ended the host country's 77-year wait for a British men's champion at Wimbledon by beating Djokovic in the 2013 final. ... Has grown comfortable in the intense spotlight that shines on him for these two weeks every year. ... No worse than a semifinalist each of the past five years at the All England Club, including a runner-up finish to Roger Federer in 2012. ... Now coached by former women's No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo.
ROGER FEDERER
Seeded: 4
Age: 32
Country: Switzerland
2014 Match Record: 34-7
2014 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 79
Major Titles: 17 - Wimbledon ('03, `04, `05, `06, `07, `09, `12), U.S. Open ('04, `05, `06, `07, `08), Australian Open ('04, `06, `07, `10), French Open ('09)
Last 5 Wimbledons: `13-2nd, `12-W, `11-QF, `10-QF, `09-W
Topspin: Won his record 17th and, to date, last Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2012, tying Pete Sampras and Willie Renshaw (who played in the 1880s) with No. 7 at the All England Club. ... His surprising second-round exit at Wimbledon last year (against 116th-ranked Sergiy Stakhovsky) ended Federer's streak of reaching at least the quarterfinals at a record 36 consecutive majors. ... He's now lost before the quarterfinals at three of the past four majors. ... Playing in his 59th consecutive Grand Slam tournament, a record for men.
JOHN ISNER
Seeded: 9
Age: 29
Country: United States
2014 Match Record: 19-10
2014 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 8
Major Titles: 0 - Best: QF, at U.S. Open ('11)
Last 5 Wimbledons: `13-2nd, `12-1st, `11-2nd, `10-2nd, `09-DNP
Topspin: Made it to the fourth round at the French Open, something he's still never done at Wimbledon, despite his booming serve. ... Will always be linked to winning the longest match in tennis history - an 11-plus-hour marathon that ended 70-68 in the fifth set against Nicolas Mahut - at Wimbledon in 2010. ... Only American man ranked in the top 50.
GRIGOR DIMITROV
Seeded: 11
Age: 23
Country: Bulgaria
2014 Match Record: 30-9
2014 Singles Titles: 3
Career Singles Titles: 4
Major Titles: 0 - Best: QF, at Australian Open ('14)
Last 5 Wimbledons: `13-2nd, `12-2nd, `11-2nd, `10-1st, `09-DNP
Topspin: Widely considered the next big thing in men's tennis, even earning the nickname ''Baby Fed'' because of his Federer-esque style of play. ... Won the trophy at Queen's Club on grass last week, giving him three titles on three surfaces in 2014.
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