Men to watch at the French Open, where play begins Sunday:
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NOVAK DJOKOVIC
Ranked: 1
Country: Serbia
Age: 32
2019 Match Record: 23-5
2019 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 74
Grand Slam Singles Titles: 15 — French Open (2016), Australian Open (2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019), Wimbledon (2011, 2014, 2015, 2018), U.S. Open (2011, 2015, 2018)
Last 5 French Opens: 2018-Lost in Quarterfinals, 2017-QF, 2016-Won Championship, 2015-Runner-Up, 2014-RU
Aces: Eyes fourth consecutive major title, which also would move him closer to the only men with more career Slam titles, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. … Seven career victories on clay against Nadal are three more than any other player has.
Topspin: His 21-match Grand Slam winning streak and recent form on clay — won Madrid Open without dropping a set; reached Italian Open final before losing to Nadal — make for an imposing presence in Paris.
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RAFAEL NADAL
Ranked: 2
Country: Spain
Age: 32 (Turns 33 on June 3)
2019 Match Record: 25-5
2019 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 81
Grand Slam Singles Titles: 17 — French Open (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018), Australian Open (2009), Wimbledon (2008, 2010), U.S. Open (2010, 2013, 2017)
Last 5 French Opens: 2018-W, 2017-W, 2016-3rd, 2015-QF, 2014-W
Aces: 86-2 at Roland Garros with 11 titles. Losses: 2009 against Robin Soderling, 2015 against Novak Djokovic. … Overall mark of 429-39 on clay, a .917 winning percentage. … Capturing tour-leading 37.5 percent of return games in 2019.
Topspin: Maybe hold off on those predictions of Nadal’s demise? He is playing well on clay right when it matters the most.
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ROGER FEDERER
Ranked: 3
Country: Switzerland
Age: 37
2019 Match Record: 22-3
2019 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 101
Grand Slam Singles Titles: 20 — French Open (2009), Australian Open (2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2018), Wimbledon (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017), U.S. Open (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
Last 5 French Opens: 2018-Did Not Play, 2017-DNP, 2016-DNP, 2015-QF, 2014-4th
Aces: How good was Federer on clay in his prime? In 100 matches from 2005-09, he went 2-9 against Nadal, 84-5 against anyone else. … Collected 101st career title and 1,200th match victory this season, joining Jimmy Connors as the only men in the professional era with that many in each category.
Topspin: Returns to Roland Garros after sitting it out each of the past three years — his absence in 2016 ended his then-record streak of 65 consecutive appearances at majors — and there’s no reason to think he couldn’t stick around until the last weekend.
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DOMINIC THIEM
Ranked: 4
Country: Austria
Age: 25
2019 Match Record: 17-8
2019 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 13
Grand Slam Singles Titles: 0 — Best: RU, French Open (2018)
Last 5 French Opens: 2018-RU, 2017-SF, 2016-SF, 2015-2nd, 2014-2nd
Aces: Nine career titles came on clay … Teamed up with 2004 Olympic gold medalist Nicolas Massu for coaching ahead of the clay circuit.
Topspin: Profiles as a title contender, with his sturdy frame and powerful groundstrokes, four wins over Nadal on clay and a 16-3 French Open record the past three years.
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ALEXANDER ZVEREV
Ranked: 5
Country: Germany
Age: 22
2019 Match Record: 15-10
2019 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 10
Grand Slam Singles Titles: 0 — Best: QF, French Open (2018)
Last 5 French Opens: 2018-QF, 2017-1st, 2016-3rd, 2015-DNP, 2014-DNP
Aces: Has half as many match wins and only a fourth as many final appearances so far in 2019 as he did a year ago at this time. … Went through a recent 4-8 stretch.
Topspin: Zverev contends, “I always have felt that I’m one of the best players in the world on clay,” but he hasn’t played that way this season. Certainly possesses the talent to turn it around.
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STEFANOS TSITSIPAS
Ranked: 6
Country: Greece
Age: 20
2019 Match Record: 27-10
2019 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 3
Grand Slam Singles Titles: 0 — Best: SF, Australian Open (2019)
Last 5 French Opens: 2018-2nd, 2017-1st, 2016-DNP, 2015-DNP, 2014-DNP
Aces: Career-high ranking. … Youngest player to own victories over Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal (on clay, no less) and Roger Federer.
Topspin: Run in Australia and recent showings on clay (title in Estoril, final in Madrid, semifinal in Rome) showed he’s starting to realize his potential, with a big forehand and slick volleys set up by good movement for a 6-foot-4 (1.93-meter) guy.
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KEI NISHIKORI
Ranked: 7
Country: Japan
Age: 29
2019 Match Record: 19-9
2019 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 12
Grand Slam Singles Titles: 0 — Best: RU, U.S. Open (2014)
Last 5 French Opens: 2018-4th, 2017-QF, 2016-4th, 2015-QF, 2014-1st
Aces: Struggled on his preferred hard courts more than usual this season, but a semifinal run at the Barcelona Open showed he still can contend on clay when healthy.
Topspin: Needs to avoid running himself ragged in the early rounds, the way he did at the Australian Open, leading to a retirement in the quarterfinals.
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