U.S. Open player capsules
Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal make up tennis’ Big 3. They have combined to win 29 of the past 30 Grand Slams since 2005. In the three majors this season, each has won one major — the first time since 2005 there have been different winners for each of the first three majors. But with Nadal withdrawing because of a knee injury, the field is more wide open. Don’t count out a surging Andy Murray, who won the gold medal in the London Olympics and finally could win that elusive slam.
ROGER FEDERER
U.S. OPEN SEED: 1
COUNTRY: Switzerland
AGE: 31
After not winning a slam in 2011 for the first time since 2002, Federer won his record-tying seventh Wimbledon in July and followed that up with a silver medal in the Olympics. He took over the No. 1 ranking after his Wimbledon win. Federer can compete for the title, and has made it to at least the semifinals in the past eight U.S. Opens.
2012 GRAND SLAMS
AUSTRALIAN: Semifinals
FRENCH: Semifinals
WIMBLEDON: Champion
BEST U.S. OPEN FINISH: Five-time champion (2004-2008)
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
U.S. OPEN SEED: 2
COUNTRY: Serbia
AGE: 25
The reigning U.S. Open champion had his best season in 2011. He had a 70-6 record, and was 27-1 in the Grand Slams. In 2011, he won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open and lost to Nadal in the French Open semifinals. This year, he won his third Australian Open before losing in the French Open finals to Nadal and falling to Federer in the Wimbledon semifinals. Djokovic suffered back-to-back losses to Andy Murray and Juan Martin Del Potro in the Olympics and failed to medal. Despite those recent set-backs, he made the finals of his past two tournaments and has been to the U.S. Open finals two years in a row.
2012 GRAND SLAMS
AUSTRALIAN: Champion
FRENCH OPEN: Runner-up
WIMBLEDON: Semifinals
BEST U.S. OPEN FINISH: Champion (2011)
ANDY MURRAY
U.S. OPEN SEED: 3
COUNTRY: Great Britain
AGE: 25
Murray failed again in his quest to win a Grand Slam, losing to Federer in four sets in the Wimbledon final. He won the first set before dropping three-straight, and was an emotional wreck crying on the court after the match. Murray got some revenge — and the biggest win of his career — in the Olympics, thrashing Federer in three straight sets to win gold. Having finally won a career-defining match, expect Murray to challenge for the title.
2012 GRAND SLAMS
AUSTRALIAN: Semifinals
FRENCH OPEN: Quarterfinals
WIMBLEDON: Finals
BEST U.S. OPEN FINISH: Runner-up (2008)
DAVID FERRER
U.S. OPEN SEED: 4
COUNTRY: Spain
AGE: 30
With Nadal withdrawing, Ferrer finally cracked into the top four seed in a major event. The underrated Spaniard is consistent, making the quarterfinals of all three grand slams this year. That includes the French Open semifinals, where he was ousted by Federer. Ferrer has won five singles titles this year, and this could be his best chance to win a grand slam.
2012 GRAND SLAMS
AUSTRALIAN:Quarterfinals
FRENCH OPEN: Semifinals
WIMBLEDON: Quarterfinals
BEST U.S. OPEN FINISH: Semifinals (2007)
THE FIELD
JO-WILFRIED TSONGA
U.S. OPEN SEED: 5
COUNTRY: France
AGE: 27
Despite his consistency, Tsonga has reached just one Grand Slam final. Tsonga made the semifinals this year at Wimbledon, where he lost to Murray and could pose a threat to the top three seeds.
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO
U.S. OPEN SEED: 7
COUNTRY: Argentina
AGE: 23
Fact: He won the U.S. Open in 2009 and is the only other player not named Djokovic, Federer or Nadal to have won a Grand Slam since 2005. Del Potro also won the bronze medal in London, beating Djokovic in straight sets.
JOHN ISNER U.S. OPEN SEED: 9 COUNTRY: United States AGE: 27 Isner, the highest-ranked American in the draw, he hasn’t done well in Grand Slams. He did make the quarterfinals here last year. He also has a fairly good draw. ANDY RODDICK U.S. OPEN SEED: 20 COUNTRY: United States AGE: 29 Roddick hasn’t made it past the third round in any of the three majors this year, and his 2003 U.S. Open win seems like decades ago. The home crowd advantage is always there for him, but a deep run is probably out of the question for the aging star. MARDY FISH U.S. OPEN SEED: 23 COUNTRY: United States AGE: 30 The days of Fish perhaps becoming the next best thing in American tennis are over, but when healthy, he puts on a good show, especially in Flushing Meadows. Fish has made the fourth round in each of his past three Opens, including going to the quarterfinals in 2008. WOMEN Since 2011, there have been seven different women to win each of the seven Grand Slams in during that time. Three of those winners (Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters, Maria Sharapova) also have won the U.S. Open, but as usual, the tournament is wide open. Serena is the best player in the game, but there are still other women who could make it eight-for-eight, such as Caroline Wozniacki, Angelique Kerber or Venus Williams. VICTORIA AZARENKA U.S. OPEN SEED: 1 COUNTRY: Belarus AGE:23 She won her first major at the Australian Open in January and made the semifinals at Wimbledon. Azarenka claimed bronze in women’s singles at the Olympics, and gold in mixed doubles. She could face a tough challenge in the fourth round — possibly meeting three-time U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters or 2011 champion Samantha Stosur. 2012 GRAND SLAMS AUSTRALIAN: Champion FRENCH OPEN: Fourth round WIMBLEDON: Semifinals BEST U.S. OPEN FINISH: Fourth round (2007) AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA U.S. OPEN SEED: 2 COUNTRY: Poland AGE: 23 Radwanska won two titles in the first four months of the season. She reached the Wimbledon final, losing to Serena Williams in three sets. She has something to prove after a disappointing first-round loss in the Olympics. 2012 GRAND SLAMS AUSTRALIAN: Quarterfinals FRENCH OPEN: Third round WIMBLEDON: Runner-up BEST U.S. OPEN FINISH: Fourth round (2007-08) MARIA SHARAPOVA U.S. OPEN SEED: 3 COUNTRY: Russia AGE: 25 Sharapova completed the career grand slam with a victory at the French Open in June. This came right after losing in the Australian Open finals. She did suffer a disappointing loss in the fourth round at Wimbledon, but bounced back nicely with a silver medal at the Olympics. Despite withdrawing from the U.S. Open tune-up because of a stomach virus, you can bet she wil be ready this week. 2012 GRAND SLAMS AUSTRALIAN: Runner-up FRENCH OPEN: Champion WIMBLEDON: Fourth round BEST U.S. OPEN FINISH: Champion (2006) SERENA WILLIAMS U.S. OPEN SEED: 4 COUNTRY: United States AGE: 30 Serena, last year’s U.S. Open runner-up, is having herself quite the summer. In a span of less than a month, Serena won her fifth Wimbledon title, then returned to the All-England club to win Olympic gold medals in women’s singles and doubles. She recently had a 19-match winning streak snapped. Williams did suffer her first-ever first-round loss in a major at the French Open this season, but has been dominant since. 2012 GRAND SLAMS AUSTRALIAN: Fourth round FRENCH OPEN: First round WIMBLEDON: Champion BEST U.S. OPEN FINISH: Champion (1999, ’02, ‘08) THE FIELD SAMANTHA STOSUR U.S. OPEN SEED: 7 COUNTRY: Australia AGE: 28 Never count out the champion, even if she is just the No. 7 seed and has struggled in the other slams. She could meet Serena in the finals, whom she beat last year and plays well against head-to-head. CAROLINE WOZNIACKI U.S OPEN SEED: 8 COUNTRY: Denmark AGE: 22 The former world No. 1 has yet to win her first Grand Slam, and has not been to a grand slam final since the 2009 U.S. Open. She suffered a surprising a first-round loss at Wimbledon, and hasn’t won a tournament all year. She retired from a semifinal match at New Haven on Friday with a knee injury, which could be a cause for concern. CHRISTINA MCHALE U.S. OPEN SEED: 21 COUNTRY: United States AGE: 20 The Teaneck, N.J. native is the second-highest ranking U.S. female in the draw behind Serena. She has made it to the third round in each of the three Grand Slams this year and is poised for a breakout tournament. KIM CLIJSTERS U.S. OPEN SEED: 23 COUNTRY: Belgium AGE: 29 This will be the final grand slam for the 29-year old, who announced earlier this year that she will retire for good at the end of the year. Clijsters missed last years’ Open with an abdominal injury, but has a 21-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows. She won the title in 2005, 2009 and 2010, bud did not play from 2006-2008 or in 2011. VENUS WILLIAMS U.S. OPEN SEED: Unseeded COUNTRY: United States AGE: 32 Yes, Venus is likely past her prime. She has not made it past the second round in any majors this year, and the last time she made the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam was in the 2010 semifinals of the U.S. Open. But this tournament and this crowd seemingly bring out the best in her, and she is a two-time champion (2000-2001).
