UPDATED AFTER ROME MASTERS
HOW THE LEADING MEN SHAPE UP FOR THE 2015 FRENCH OPEN
NOVAK DJOKOVIC (SRB)
Age: 28
Ranking: 1
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US78,397,032 ($A99.04 million)
Career titles: 53
Grand slam titles: 8 (Australian Open 2008, 2011-2013, 2015; Wimbledon 2011, 2014; US Open 2011)
French Open win-loss record: 42-10
Best French Open performances: finalist 2012, 2014
The odds-on favourite to finally complete his career grand slam after two near misses at Roland Garros. Has collected 12 titles in a stunningly dominant past 13 months, including five already in 2015.
RAFAEL NADAL (ESP)
Age: 28
Ranking: 7
Plays: left-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US72,745,277 ($A91.90 million)
Career titles: 65
Grand slam titles: 14 (Australian Open 2009; French Open 2005-08, 2010-14; Wimbledon 2008, 2010; US Open 2010, 2013)
French Open win-loss record: 66-1
Best French Open performances: champion 2005-08, 2010-14
The Spaniard is at his lowest ranking in a decade having won only one tournament all year – and none on European clay. Undoubtedly playing second fiddle to Djokovic but with just one defeat in 10 trips to Paris the king of clay cannot be underestimated.
ROGER FEDERER (SUI)
Age: 33
Ranking: 2
Plays: right-handed
Career prize money: $US90,231,144 ($A113.99 million)
Career titles: 85
Grand slam titles: 17 (Australian Open 2004, 2006-07, 2010; French Open 2009; Wimbledon 2003-07, 2009, 2012; US Open 2004-2008)
French Open win-loss record: 73-11
Best French Open performance: champion 2009
The five-time finalist has enjoyed another fine start to the season, collecting three titles including one on clay, and will again fancy his chances of making another deep run, particularly as second seed and with Nadal not on top of his game.
ANDY MURRAY (SCO)
Age: 28
Ranking: 3
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US37,257,669 ($A47.07 million)
Career titles: 33
Grand slam titles: 2 (US Open 2012; Wimbledon 2013)
French Open win-loss record: 23-7
Best French Open performances: semi-finalist 2011, 2014
The Scot’s build-up could hardly have been more impressive, sweeping to successive claycourt titles in Munich and Madrid and conquering Nadal on the surface for the first time to confirm his credentials as a bona fide title contender.
KEI NISHIKORI (JPN)
Age: 25
Ranking: 5
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US9,567,908 ($A12.09 million)
Career titles: 9
Grand slam titles: 0
French Open win-loss record: 5-4
Best French Open performance: 4th round 2013
The US Open runner-up returns injury-free for the first time since emerging as a genuinely elite claycourt exponent last year. Has already won one title on the surface in 2015.
BEST OUTSIDER
GAEL MONFILS (FRA)
Age: 28
Ranking: 15
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US8,734,568 ($A11.03 million)
Career titles: 5
Grand slam titles: 0
French Open win-loss record: 25-9
Best French Open performance: semi-finalist 2008
The former Roland Garros junior champion has reached the last eight on four occasions and the semi-final once and could surprise at huge odds if the stars align in his quest to become the first local men’s winner since Yannick Noah in 1983.
BEST AUSTRALIAN HOPE
NICK KYRGIOS
Age: 20
Ranking: 30
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US1,196,413 ($A1.51 million)
Career titles: 0
Grand slam titles: 0
French Open win-loss record: 1-2
Best French Open performance: 2nd round 2013
Under a slight injury cloud, but the two-time grand slam quarter-finalist considered clay his best surface before making the last eight at Wimbledon last year and proved his point with victory over Federer in Madrid.
