HOW THE LEADING MEN SHAPE UP FOR THE 2017 FRENCH OPEN
ANDY MURRAY (SCO)
Age: 30
Ranking: 1
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US59,842,103 ($A80 million)
Career titles: 45
Grand slam titles: 3 (Wimbledon 2013, 2016; US Open 2012)
French Open win-loss record: 34-9
Best French Open result: finalist 2016
The world No.1 has been a shadow of himself in 2017, winning just five matches in four claycourt events, and must rediscover form quickly to challenge for the title.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC (SRB)
Age: 30
Ranking: 2
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US108,940,597 ($A146 million)
Career titles: 67
Grand slam titles: 12 (Australian Open 2008, 2011-2013, 2015-16; French Open 2016; Wimbledon 2011, 2014, 2015; US Open 2011, 2015)
French Open win-loss record: 55-11
Best French Open result: champion 2016
The Serb has turned to the legendary Andre Agassi for assistance after a barren one-title season, but the Serb showed signs of life with a run to the Rome final in a morale-boosting last hit-out before his title defence.
STAN WAWRINKA (SUI)
Age: 32
Ranking: 3
Plays: Right-handed
Career prize money: $US29,281,823 ($A39 million)
Career singles titles: 15
Grand slam titles: 3 (Australian Open 2014; 2015 French Open; 2016 US Open)
French Open win-loss record: 32-11
Best French Open result: champion 2015
The late-blooming Swiss has won at least one grand slam title every year for the past three seasons and is once again seeded to go deep on a surface in which he’s landed six titles.
RAFAEL NADAL (ESP)
Age: 30
Ranking: 4
Plays: left-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US83,573,172 ($A112 million)
Career titles: 72
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: 72-2
Best French Open results: champion 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
The claycourt colossus hasn’t won a slam since 2014 and few could have imagined the remarkable turnaround since his teary withdrawal last year with a wrist injury. The odds-on favourite after dominating on dirt once again.
DOMINIC THIEM (AUT)
Age: 23
Ranking: 7
Plays: right-handed
Career prize money: $US7,049,918 ($A9.4 million)
Career titles: 8
Grand slam titles: 0
French Open win-loss record: 7-3
Best French Open result: semi-finalist 2016
The big-hitting Austrian has continued his meteoric rise with an eye-catching claycourt run in 2017. The only player to conquer Nadal on the surface all season and a serious title threat.
BEST OUTSIDER
ALEXANDER ZVEREV (GER)
Age: 20
Ranking: 10
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US3,610,598 ($A4.8 million)
Career titles: 4
Grand slam titles: 0
French Open win-loss record: 2-1
Best French Open result: third round 2016
The youngest player in the world’s top 10 looms as a huge threat after crowning a fine claycourt season with victory over defending champion Djokovic in Rome.
BEST AUSTRALIAN HOPES
NICK KYRGIOS
Age: 22
Ranking: 19
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US4,373,015 ($A5.9 million)
Career titles: 3
Grand slam titles: 0
French Open win-loss record: 4-4
Best French Open results: third round 2015, 2016
The grand slam champion in waiting was enjoying career-best form before a hip flexor injury cast doubt over his ability to go the distance on the sport’s most demanding surface.
BERNARD TOMIC
Age: 24
Ranking: 39
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US5,033,904 ($A6.7 million)
Career titles: 3
Grand slam titles: 0
French Open win-loss record: 3-7
Best French Open results: second round 2012, 2015, 2016
Has fallen down the rankings after cracking the top 20 for the first time last year and winning a match on his least preferred surface would be a good result.