HOW THE LEADING MEN SHAPE UP FOR THE 2014 US OPEN STARTING ON MONDAY
NOVAK DJOKOVIC (SRB)
Age: 27
Ranking: 1
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US65,419,345 ($A70.78 million)
Career singles titles: 45
Grand slam titles: 7 (Australian Open 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013;
Wimbledon 2011, 2014; US Open 2011)
US Open win-loss record: 45-8
Best US Open result: champion (2011)
Suffered third-round losses in past two events after getting married following his second Wimbledon triumph, but has an extraordinarily consistent record in New York, reaching five finals and two semis on his last seven visits. Still the favourite.
ROGER FEDERER (SUI)
Age: 33
Ranking: 3
Plays: Right-handed
Career prize money: $US84,035,204 ($A90.92 million)
Career singles titles: 80
Grand slam titles: 17 (Australian Open 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010; French Open 2009; Wimbledon 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012; US Open 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
US Open win-loss record: 67-9
Best US Open results: champion 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Written off as a has-been after a fourth-round US Open exit in 2013, the Swiss is now second pick for a record sixth title having made the Wimbledon final and clinched the pre-event Cincinnati Masters
STANISLAS WAWRINKA (SUI)
Age: 29
Ranking: 4
Plays: Right-handed
Career prize money: $US12,784,810 ($A13.83 million)
Career singles titles: 7
Grand slam titles: 1 (Australian Open 2014)
US Open win-loss record: 23-9
Best US Open result: semi-finalist 2013
His breakthrough Australian Open title in January came after a titanic five-set semi-final loss to Djokovic last year at Flushing Meadows, a performance that showed the Swiss he belonged among the elite.
ANDY MURRAY (GBR)
Age: 27
Ranking: 9
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US32,083,768 ($A34.71 million)
Career singles titles: 28
Grand slam titles: 2 (Wimbledon 2013; US Open 2012)
US Open win-loss record: 33-8
Best US Open result: champion 2012
Has struggled to match the heights of his historic 2013 Wimbledon triumph and has not made a final since. But with an eighth seeding of eight in New York, at least he can play pressure-free and work his way into title contention.
JO-WILFRIED TSONGA (FRA)
Age: 29
Ranking: 10
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US13,964,755 ($A15.11 million)
Career singles titles: 11
Grand slam titles: 0
US Open win-loss record: 11-5
Best US Open result: quarter-finalist 2011
The enigmatic Frenchman returned to his explosive best a fortnight ago, taking down Djokovic and Federer in his march to the Toronto Masters title. Can beat anyone on his day.
BEST OUTSIDER
GRIGOR DIMITROV (BUL)
Age: 23
Ranking: 8
Plays: Right-handed
Career prize money: $US4,187,252 ($A4.53 million)
Career singles titles: 4
Grand slam titles: 0
US Open win-loss record: 0-3
Best US Open results: first round 2011, 2012, 2013
Despite his sorry record in New York, the former world junior champion is a different player these days, at a career-high ranking after a breakout season highlighted by three titles and run to the Wimbledon semi-finals.
BEST AUSTRALIAN HOPES
LLEYTON HEWITT
Age: 33
Ranking: 41
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US20,417,122 ($A22.09 million)
Career titles: 30
Grand slam titles: 2 (US Open 2001; Wimbledon 2002)
US Open win-loss record: 46-12
Best US Open performance: champion 2001
The former champion went within a couple of points of reaching his eighth US Open quarter-final last year and, after adding another title to his collection last month in Newport, could make another run to the second week with a decent draw.
BERNARD TOMIC
Age: 21
Ranking: 67
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US2,274,462 ($A2.46 million)
Career titles: 2
Grand slam titles: 0
US Open win-loss record: 3-3
Best US Open performances: 2nd round 2011, 2012, 2013
Needed a wildcard entry after tumbling out of the world’s top 120 before reviving his season and slashing his ranking almost by half with a confidence-boosting title last month in Colombia.
