RAFAEL NADAL (1)
Age: 22
Country: Spain
2008 Match Record: 70-8
2008 Singles Titles: 8 (2 hard)
Career Singles Titles: 31 (6)
Major Titles: 5 - French Open (2005-08), Wimbledon (2008)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '07-4th, '06-QF, '05-3rd, '04-2nd, '03-2nd
Topspin: The Olympic, Wimbledon and French Open champion tries to finish off the greatest year of his career. Won't be easy - he's never been beyond the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open and lost in the fourth round last year. ... Became No. 1 this month, ending Roger Federer's run of 237 straight weeks on top. ... Outlasted Federer in classic, five-set final at Wimbledon; swept him at the French. ... Is 12-6 lifetime vs. Federer, winning all four matchups this year.
ROGER FEDERER (2)
Age: 27
Country: Switzerland
2008 Match Record: 47-12
2008 Singles Titles: 2 (0)
Career Singles Titles: 55 (36)
Major Titles: 12 - U.S. Open (2004-07), Wimbledon (2003-07), Australian Open (2004, 2006-07)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '07-Won Championship, '06-W, '05-W, '04-W, '03-4th
Topspin: For once, he seems beatable going into the U.S. Open. That said, this tournament often brings out his best, be it an on-the-run, behind-the-back, through-the-legs volley or a piercing backhand. ... Trying for fifth consecutive title at the American Grand Slam, which no man has done since Bill Tilden won six straight in 1920-25. ... Needs two more Grand Slam titles to match Pete Sampras' record. ... Paired with Stanislas Wawrinka to win Olympic gold in doubles. ... Had been top seed at every Slam since Andy Roddick at the 2004 Australian Open.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC (3)
Age: 21
Country: Serbia
2008 Match Record: 49-12
2008 Singles Titles: 3 (2)
Career Singles Titles: 10 (7)
Major Titles: 1 - Australian Open (2008)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '07-Runner-Up, '06-3rd, '05-3rd, '04-DNP, '03-DNP
Topspin: Beat James Blake for the Olympic bronze. ... Lost to Federer in last year's U.S. Open final, hurt by dropping seven set points. ... Huge crowd pleaser with his spot-on imitations of Nadal and Maria Sharapova - they enjoy the fun. Does an impression of Federer, too - he doesn't seem to like it so much. ... Has played Nadal twice and Federer once on hard courts in 2008 and won all three times. ... Follow the bouncing ball: He'll dribble it almost 30 times before serves on key points.
NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO (5)
Age: 27
Country: Russia
2008 Match Record: 43-14
2008 Singles Titles: 3 (1)
Career Singles Titles: 14 (4)
Major Titles: 0 - Best Finish: SF, U.S. Open (2006-07); French Open (2005, 2007)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '07-SF, '06-SF, '05-2nd, '04-3rd, '03-2nd
Topspin: 19-8 on hard courts this year, including a title at Key Biscayne, but only 2-3 this summer ... Lost to Federer in semis at the U.S. Open the past two years. ... Lost in first round at Wimbledon for fifth time in career. ... Has been shadowed by questions about a betting scandal since a 2007 match in Poland. Said he suspects he might've inadvertently revealed too much about an injury while talking loudly to his wife.
ANDY MURRAY (6)
Age: 21
Country: Britain
2008 Match Record: 35-13
2008 Singles Titles: 3 (3)
Career Singles Titles: 6 (5)
Major Titles: 0 - Best Finish: QF, U.S. Open (2005-06)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '07-3rd, '06-4th, '05-2nd, '04-DNP, '03-DNP
Topspin: Beat Djokovic for his first Masters Series title at Cincinnati earlier this month. ... Also beat Djokovic in quarters of Rogers Cup before losing to Nadal in semis. ... Won U.S. Open junior title in 2004. ... Trying to become the first British man to win the U.S. Open since Fred Perry in 1936.
ANDY RODDICK (8)
Age: 25 (turns 26 on Aug. 30)
Country: United States
2008 Match Record: 33-10
2008 Singles Titles: 2 (2)
Career Singles Titles: 25 (15)
Major Titles: 1 - U.S. Open (2003)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '07-QF, '06-RU, '05-1st, '04-QF, '03-W
Topspin: Jimmy Connors resigned as his coach early this year. ... Hard server, smacked 42 aces in a five-set match at the Australian Open in January. ... Best chance to win is to avoid playing Federer - Roddick is 2-15 lifetime against the Swiss star, including 0-6 in Grand Slams.
JAMES BLAKE (9)
Age: 28
Country: United States
2008 Match Record: 41-20
2008 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 10 (10)
Major Titles: 0 - Best Finish: QF, U.S. Open (2005-06)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '07-4th, '06-QF, '05-QF, '04-DNP, '03-3rd
Topspin: Beat Federer in the quarterfinals at Beijing before losing to Djokovic for the bronze. ... Backed by the most vocal rooting section at the U.S. Open, the J-Block. Look and listen for his private box to get rowdy, especially when matches get near midnight.
FERNANDO GONZALEZ (11)
Age: 28
Country: Argentina
2008 Match Record: 29-10
2008 Singles Titles: 2 (0)
Career Singles Titles: 10 (1)
Major Titles: 0 - Best Finish: Runner-Up, Australian Open (2007)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '07-1st, '06-3rd, '05-3rd, '04-1st, '03-3rd
Topspin: Silver medalist at the Olympics, losing to Nadal. ... Beat Blake in a testy semifinal match at Beijing. Early, Gonzalez apologized after hitting an easy forehand at Blake's head. Later, Blake questioned Gonzalez's sportsmanship after a disputed shot.
GILLES SIMON (16)
Age: 23
Country: France
2008 Match Record: 33-19
2008 Singles Titles: 2 (1)
Career Singles Titles: 4 (2)
Major Titles: 0 - Best Finish: 3rd, Wimbledon (2008), Australian Open (2006, 2008)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '07-2nd, '06-2nd, '05-DNP, '04-DNP, '03-DNP
Topspin: 12-3 this summer, including title at Indianapolis ... Beat Federer in second round of Rogers Cup.
JUAN MARTIN del POTRO (17)
Age: 19
Country: Argentina
2008 Match Record: 28-8
2008 Singles Titles: 4 (2)
Career Singles Titles: 4 (2)
Major Titles: 0 - Best Finish: 3rd, U.S. Open (2007)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '07-3rd, '06-1st, '05-DNP, '04-DNP, '03-DNP
Topspin: Peaking on tour, winning 19 consecutive matches and four straight titles, including the last two on hard courts ... Best wins during streak over Richard Gasquet, Roddick and Tommy Haas ... Withdrew from this week's New Haven tournament, citing exhaustion ... Reached the second round in each of this year's previous Grand Slam events ... Ranking has jumped 48 places over last six weeks.
WOMENANA IVANOVIC (1)
Age: 21
Country: Serbia
2008 Match Record: 30-8
2008 Singles Titles: 2 (1)
Career Singles Titles: 7 (5)
Major Titles: 1 - French Open (2008)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '07-4th, '06-3rd, '05-2nd, '04-DNP, '03-DNP
Topspin: Withdrew from Olympic tournament before it began because of inflammation in her right hand; the problem flared up last month and left her unable to practice. ... Commanded her shots and nerves to beat Dinara Safina in Paris for first Grand Slam championship. Had lost to Maria Sharapova this year in the Australian Open final. ... Was upset by No. 133 Zheng Jie in third round at Wimbledon. ... Became No. 1 for the first time this season.
JELENA JANKOVIC (2)
Age: 23
Country: Serbia
2008 Match Record: 44-14
2008 Singles Titles: 1 (0)
Career Singles Titles: 6 (1)
Major Titles: 0 - Best Finish: SF, U.S. Open (2006), French Open (2007-08), Australian Open (2008)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '07-QF, '06-SF, '05-3rd, '04-2nd, '03-DNP
Topspin: Reached No. 1 in the rankings this year for the first time. ... Has never made it to the final of a Grand Slam tournament. ... Expressive player, often chides herself for missed shots. Can play to the crowd.
SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA (3)
Age: 23
Country: Russia
2008 Match Record: 31-13
2008 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 9 (7)
Major Titles: 1 - U.S. Open (2004)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '07-Runner-Up, '06-4th, '05-1st, '04-W, '03-3rd
Topspin: Former U.S. Open champ was wiped out by Justine Henin in last year's final at Flushing Meadows. ... Reached the final in three tournaments this year, lost all three. ... Likes to sport New York-themed hats during the Open.
SERENA WILLIAMS (4)
Age: 26
Country: United States
2008 Match Record: 36-6
2008 Singles Titles: 3 (2)
Career Singles Titles: 31 (22)
Major Titles: 8 - U.S. Open (1999, 2002), Wimbledon (2002-03), French Open (2003), Australian Open (2003, 2005, 2007)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '07-QF, '06-4th, '05-4th, '04-QF, '03-DNP
Topspin: Oddsmakers picked her as favorite to women's title. ... What will she wear? Last year, she opted for a babydoll dress with a pink bow around the bust in the opening round. ... Teamed with sister Venus to win Olympic gold medal in doubles. ... The Williams sisters both lost to Henin last year at the U.S. Open.
ELENA DEMENTIEVA (5)
Age: 26
Country: Russia
2008 Match Record: 40-11
2008 Singles Titles: 2 (2)
Career Singles Titles: 10 (7)
Major Titles: 0 - Best Finish: Runner-Up, U.S. Open (2004), French Open (2004)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '07-3rd, '06-QF, '05-SF, '04-RU, '03-4th
Topspin: Won Olympic singles title, ending Safina's 15-match winning streak for the gold medal. ... Her serve is always suspect. At times, she drops down and pops 'em over sidearm, like a kid just learning how to play.
DINARA SAFINA (6)
Age: 22
Country: Russia
2008 Match Record: 43-14
2008 Singles Titles: 3 (2)
Career Singles Titles: 8 (3)
Major Titles: 0 - Best Finish: RU, French Open (2008)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '07-4th, '06-QF, '05-1st, '04-1st, '03-4th
Topspin: Paired with Nathalie Dechy for the women's doubles title at the U.S. Open last year in their first tournament together. ... Her brother is 2000 U.S. Open champion Marat Safin - her temperament isn't quite as explosive as her brother's. ... Defeated Jankovic twice and Kuznetsova once during a long winning streak this year.
VENUS WILLIAMS (7)
Age: 28
Country: United States
2008 Match Record: 24-8
2008 Singles Titles: 1 (0)
Career Singles Titles: 37 (22)
Major Titles: 7 - U.S. Open (2000-01), Wimbledon (2000-01, 2005, 2007-08)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '07-SF, '06-DNP, '05-QF, '04-4th, '03-DNP
Topspin: Beat Serena in this year's Wimbledon final. ... Could play Serena in the quarterfinals, not exactly the draw the sisters wanted. ... Was formidable at the U.S. Open from 1997-02 - two titles, two other appearances in the finals and two more in the semifinals. ... Is last woman to win consecutive U.S. Opens.
VERA ZVONAREVA (8)
Age: 23
Country: Russia
2008 Match Record: 43-15
2008 Singles Titles: 1 (0)
Career Singles Titles: 6 (3)
Major Titles: 0 - Best Finish: QF, French Open (2003)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '07-3rd, '06-3rd, '05-DNP, '04-4th, '03-3rd
Topspin: Won bronze at the Olympics, part of a Russian sweep of the medals. ... Worth watching, because she's prone to emotional outbursts. Can take out anger on her racket, the net or the chair umpire at a moment's notice. ... Was 1-3 on North American hard courts this summer.
AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA (9)
Age: 19
Country: Poland
2008 Match Record: 44-14
2008 Singles Titles: 3 (1)
Career Singles Titles: 4 (2)
Major Titles: 0 - Best Finish: QF, Australian Open (2008), Wimbledon (2008)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '07-4th, '06-2nd, '05-DNP, '04-DNP, '03-DNP
Topspin: Posted bold, breakthrough win over Sharapova in the third round at last year's U.S. Open. The Krakow Kid would walk halfway to the service box and hop, before backing off to receive. ... Withdrew from tournaments this summer with forearm and quadriceps injuries.
LINDSAY DAVENPORT (23)
Age: 32
Country: United States
2008 Match Record: 22-4
2008 Singles Titles: 2 (2)
Career Singles Titles: 55 (36)
Major Titles: 3 - U.S. Open (1998), Wimbledon (1999), Australian Open (2000)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '07-DNP, '06-QF, '05-QF, '04-SF, '03-SF
Topspin: Making her 17th appearance at the U.S. Open. ... Has reached the quarterfinals every year she's played since 1997 ... Played well earlier this year, winning Memphis and reaching semis at Amelia Island and quarters at Indian Wells. ... Injured right knee has limited her to one match since April.
Wimbledon women’s capsules
TIGER WOODS FACTFILE
MONTY - WOODS HEALTH MOST IMPORTANT
