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US Open '19: As usual, Djokovic, Nadal, Federer lead the way

Posted August 22, 2019 7:00 am

By HOWARD FENDRICH

FILE - In this Sept. 9, 2018, file photo, Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, returns a shot to Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, during the men's final of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. Djokovic is seeded No. 1 for the U.S. Open, which he won last year for the third time. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File) The Associated Press

Men to watch at the U.S. Open, where play begins Monday:

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NOVAK DJOKOVIC

Seeded: 1

Country: Serbia

Age: 32

2019 Match Record: 38-7

2019 Singles Titles: 3

Career Singles Titles: 75

Grand Slam Singles Titles: 16 - U.S. Open (3: 2011, 2015, 2018), Australian Open (7: 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019), French Open (1: 2016), Wimbledon (5: 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019)

Last 5 U.S. Opens: 2018-Won Championship, 2017-Did Not Play, 2016-Runner-Up, 2015-W, 2014-Lost in Semifinals

Aces: Has won 4 of past 5 major tournaments, 33 of past 34 Grand Slam matches. ... Reached at least semifinals in each of last 11 U.S. Open appearances.

Topspin: At the moment, it's hard to pick against Djokovic, in general, but especially on his preferred hard courts - and when the stakes are greatest.

Matchup to Watch For: Could play Sam Querrey in 2nd round, three-time major champ Stan Wawrinka in 4th round.

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RAFAEL NADAL

Seeded: 2

Country: Spain

Age: 33

2019 Match Record: 41-6

2019 Singles Titles: 3

Career Singles Titles: 83

Grand Slam Singles Titles: 18 - U.S. Open (3: 2010, 2013, 2017), Australian Open (1: 2009), French Open (12: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019), Wimbledon (2: 2008, 2010)

Last 5 U.S. Opens: 2018-SF, 2017-W, 2016-4th, 2015-3rd, 2014-DNP

Aces: Closing in on 750 consecutive weeks ranked in the top 10; only Jimmy Connors (789) has more.

Topspin: Chances of getting closer to Roger Federer in Grand Slam title chase depend on how body holds up. ... Retired from his semifinal against Juan Martin del Potro a year ago in New York.

Matchup to Watch For: Plays John Millman, who beat Roger Federer in New York last year, in 1st round.

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ROGER FEDERER

Seeded: 3

Country: Switzerland

Age: 38

2019 Match Record: 39-6

2019 Singles Titles: 3

Career Singles Titles: 102

Grand Slam Singles Titles: 20 - U.S. Open (5: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008), Australian Open (6: 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2018), French Open (1: 2009), Wimbledon (8: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017)

Last 5 U.S. Opens: 2018-4th, 2017-QF, 2016-DNP, 2015-RU, 2014-SF

Aces: 62-minute loss to Andrey Rublev this month was quickest tour exit since 2003 and left Federer with just 1 hard-court match victory on the tuneup circuit. ... Turned 38 on Aug. 8; no man that old has won a Slam title in the professional era.

Topspin: Since 6 consecutive U.S. Open finals from 2004-09, has been back to the title match only once. But there's a lot less tread on his tires this time.

Matchup to Watch For: Could play Lucas Pouille in 3rd round.

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DOMINIC THIEM

Seeded: 4

Country: Austria

Age: 25

2019 Match Record: 31-12

2019 Singles Titles: 3

Career Singles Titles: 14

Grand Slam Singles Titles: 0 - Best: RU, French Open (2018, 2019)

Last 5 U.S. Opens: 2018-QF, 2017-4th, 2016-4th, 2015-3rd, 2014-4th

Aces: Has beaten No. 1-ranked player in each of past 3 seasons, including Djokovic in 2019.

Topspin: As good on hard courts as clay, with only 1 major quarterfinal so far, but if the draw breaks his way, could return to Week 2.

Matchup to Watch For: Could play Gael Monfils or Felix Auger-Aliassime in 4th round.

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DANIIL MEDVEDEV

Seeded: 5

Country: Russia

Age: 23

2019 Match Record: 44-16

2019 Singles Titles: 2

Career Singles Titles: 5

Grand Slam Singles Titles: 0 - Best: 4th, Australian Open (2019)

Last 5 U.S. Opens: 2018-3rd, 2017-1st, 2016-DNP, 2015-DNP, 2014-DNP

Aces: Leads tour in match wins, hard court wins (31-8), final appearances (6). ... Reached finals at past 3 tournaments, all on hard courts.

Topspin: A lesser-known, younger player who could make a major quarterfinal for first time - as long as he's not too exhausted.

Matchup to Watch For: Could play Fabio Fognini in 4th round.

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STEFANOS TSITSIPAS

Seeded: 8

Country: Greece

Age: 21

2019 Match Record: 37-18

2019 Singles Titles: 2

Career Singles Titles: 3

Grand Slam Singles Titles: 0 - Best: SF, Australian Open (2019)

Last 5 U.S. Opens: 2018-2nd, 2017-DNP, 2016-DNP, 2015-DNP, 2014-DNP

Aces: Enters on 3-match losing streak. ... Already had defeated Djokovic, Nadal and Federer before turned 21, youngest player with a win against each member of the Big Three.

Topspin: Still dealing with inconsistency but serving, volleying and court coverage are strong enough for a strong performance in his second U.S. Open.

Matchup to Watch For: Plays Andrey Rublev in 1st round; could play Nick Kyrgios in 3rd round.

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TAYLOR FRITZ

Seeded: 26

Country: United States

Age: 21

2019 Match Record: 26-21

2019 Singles Titles: 1

Career Singles Titles: 1

Grand Slam Singles Titles: 0 - Best: 3rd, U.S. Open (2018) and Australian Open (2019)

Last 5 U.S. Opens: 2018-3rd, 2017-2nd, 2016-1st, 2015-DNP, 2014-DNP

Aces: Lost to Dominic Thiem in New York the past two years. ... Cracked ATP top 25 in August, youngest American man that high since Andy Roddick in 2004.

Topspin: If he keeps up his year-by-year progress at Flushing Meadows, due to make Week 2 Slam debut.

Matchup to Watch For: Plays Feliciano Lopez in 1st round.

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Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich

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More AP tennis coverage: https://www.apnews.com/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

FILE - In this Sept. 7, 2018, file photo, Rafael Nadal, of Spain, returns a shot to Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, during the semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. Nadal is No. 2 in the ATP rankings and No. 2 among men in Grand Slam singles titles, heading into the U.S. Open with 18. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Sept. 4, 2018, file photo, Roger Federer, of Switzerland, returns a shot to John Millman, of Australia, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. Federer is ranked No. 3 leading into the U.S. Open, where he won the most recent of his five titles there in 2008. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Sept. 4, 2018, file photo, Dominic Thiem, of Austria, returns a shot to Rafael Nadal, of Spain, during the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. Thiem enters the U.S. Open ranked No. 4 and seeking his fifth trip to Week 2 in New York in the past six years. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Aug. 18, 2019, file photo, Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, serves to David Goffin, of Belgium, in the men's final match during the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament in Mason, Ohio. Medvedev heads to the U.S. Open ranked a career-high fifth after reaching the finals of his past three tournaments. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Aug. 29, 2018, file photo, Stefanos Tsitsipas, of Greece, returns to Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. Tsitsipas goes into the U.S. Open ranked eighth and hoping to rebound from a first-round exit at Wimbledon. (AP Photo/Kevin Hagen, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this July 28, 2019, file photo, Taylor Fritz returns a shot from Alex de Minaur during the finals of the Atlanta Open tennis tournament in Atlanta. Fritz heads to the U.S. Open ranked 27th and aiming to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File) The Associated Press

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