NEW YORK — Men to watch at the U.S. Open, which begins Monday (seedings in parentheses):

ROGER FEDERER (1)
Age: 28
Country: Switzerland
2009 Match Record: 47-7
2009 Singles Titles: 4
Career Singles Titles: 61
Major Titles: 15 — U.S. Open (’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08), Australian Open (’04, ’06, ’07), French Open (’09), Wimbledon (’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’09)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: ’08-Won Championship, ’07-W, ’06-W, ’05-W, ’04-W
Topspin: Titles at French Open and Wimbledon allowed him to tie, then break, Pete Sampras’ record of 14 Grand Slam championships. ... Has reached the final at 16 of past 17 majors and the semifinals at 21 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments — more than double the previous record. ... Entered Madrid Open in May without a title this season, but has won four of past five tournaments. ... U.S. Open is his first Grand Slam tournament as a father: His wife, Mirka, gave birth to twin daughters in July.

ANDY MURRAY (2)
Age: 22
Country: Britain
2009 Match Record: 53-8
2009 Singles Titles: 5
Career Singles Titles: 13
Major Titles: 0 — Best: F, at U.S. Open in ’08
Last 5 U.S. Opens: ’08-Runner-Up, ’07-Lost in 3rd Round, ’06-4th, ’05-2nd, ’04-Did Not Play
Topspin: Moved up to second in the ATP rankings this month, highest showing for a British man. ... There hasn’t been a British male champion at any Grand Slam tennis tournament since the 1930s. ... Credits his showing at Flushing Meadows a year ago, including upset of Rafael Nadal in the semifinals, with boosting his career.

RAFAEL NADAL (3)
Age: 23
Country: Spain
2009 Match Record: 49-7
2009 Singles Titles: 5
Career Singles Titles: 36
Major Titles: 6 — Australian Open (’09), French Open (’05, ’06, ’07, ’08), Wimbledon (’08)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: ’08-SF, ’07-4th, ’06-QF, ’05-3rd, ’04-2nd
Topspin: U.S. Open marks his first Grand Slam action since May, when his 31-match French Open winning streak ended with a stunning loss to Robin Soderling in the fourth round at Roland Garros. ... Skipped Wimbledon, citing tendinitis in both knees. Was only second man in three decades to not defend his title at All England Club. ... Would complete a career Grand Slam with title at Flushing Meadows.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC (4)
Age: 22
Country: Serbia
2009 Match Record: 53-16
2009 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 13
Major Titles: 1 — Australian Open (’08)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: ’08-SF, ’07-RU, ’06-3rd, ’05-3rd, ’04-DNP
Topspin: Hasn’t been past the quarterfinals at any of this year’s major tournaments; came into 2009 with semifinals or better at six of previous seven Grand Slam events. ... Worth watching: How do the New York crowds react to Djokovic this year, after loving him in ’07 and booing him in ’08?

ANDY RODDICK (5)
Age: 27 on Sunday
Country: United States
2009 Match Record: 46-12
2009 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 27
Major Titles: 1 — U.S. Open (’03)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: ’08-QF, ’07-QF, ’06-RU, ’05-1st, ’04-QF
Topspin: Only U.S. man seeded in top 20. ... Coming off heartbreaking loss to Federer at Wimbledon — 16-14 in the longest fifth set in Grand Slam final history. ... Run to title match there showed off the improvements to his game: movement, backhands, volleys, returns.

JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO (6)
Age: 20
Country: Argentina
2009 Match Record: 42-11
2009 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 6
Major Titles: 0 — Best: SF, at French Open in ’09
Last 5 U.S. Opens: ’08-QF, ’07-3rd, ’06-1st, ’05-DNP, ’04-DNP
Topspin: Pushed Federer to five sets at Roland Garros in first career major semifinal. ... Beat Roddick in final at Washington in August to win second consecutive title at that hard-court tuneup. ... Youngest member of top 10. ... At 6-foot-6, with versatile game, del Potro is high on the list of next big things in men’s tennis.

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA (7)
Age: 24
Country: France
2009 Match Record: 36-14
2009 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 4
Major Titles: 0 — Best: F, at Australian Open in ’08
Last 5 U.S. Opens: ’08-3rd, ’07-3rd, ’06-DNP, ’05-DNP, ’04-DNP
Topspin: Just 4-4 since start of Wimbledon, but did upset Federer on hard courts in Montreal in August. ... Was a U.S. Open boys’ champion as a junior.

MARAT SAFIN (Unseeded; ranked 58th)
Age: 29
Country: Russia
2009 Match Record: 10-15
2009 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 15
Major Titles: 2 — U.S. Open (’00), Australian Open (’05)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: ’08-2nd, ’07-2nd, ’06-4th, ’05-DNP, ’04-1st
Topspin: Insists this is his final season on tour, making this his last appearance at the U.S. Open — or at any Grand Slam tournament. ... Always a crowd favorite, he’s liable to do pretty much anything that comes to mind during a match — scream at himself, break his racket, drop his shorts, play brilliantly or erratically — and say pretty much anything that comes to mind afterward.