Men to watch at Wimbledon, where play begins Monday:
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ANDY MURRAY
Seeded: 1
Ranked: 1
Age: 30
Country: Britain
2017 Match Record: 21-9
2017 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 45
Major Titles: 3 — Wimbledon (‘13, ‘16), U.S. Open (‘12)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-Won Championship, ‘15-Lost in Semifinals, ‘14-QF, ‘13-W, ‘12-Runner-Up
Aces: After run to French Open semifinals, lost opener at Queen’s Club grass-court tuneup, then withdrew from an exhibition match, citing a sore hip. … Made at least QFs in each of last nine appearances at All England Club.
Topspin: Murray’s comfort level, and crowd support, at Wimbledon are both so strong that he can’t be ruled out as a serious title contender.
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NOVAK DJOKOVIC
Seeded: 2
Ranked: 4
Age: 30
Country: Serbia
2017 Match Record: 24-7 (entering Eastbourne tournament)
2017 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 67
Major Titles: 12 — French Open (‘16), Australian Open (‘08, ‘11, ‘12, ‘13, ‘15, ‘16), Wimbledon (‘11, ‘14, ‘15), U.S. Open (‘11, ‘15)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-3rd, ‘15-W, ‘14-W, ‘13-RU, ‘12-SF
Aces: After losing in French Open quarterfinals, entered grass-court tuneup for first time since 2010. … Since 2016 French Open made him first man since Rod Laver in 1969 with four consecutive major championships, failed to defend any of those titles.
Topspin: Djokovic’s once-impervious aura has disappeared. Will unusual part-time coaching arrangement with Andre Agassi pay more dividends in London than it did in Paris?
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ROGER FEDERER
Seeded: 3
Ranked: 5
Age: 35
Country: Switzerland
2017 Match Record: 24-2
2017 Singles Titles: 4
Career Singles Titles: 92
Major Titles: 18 — Wimbledon (‘03, ‘04, ‘05, ‘06, ‘07, ‘09, ‘12), U.S. Open (‘04, ‘05, ‘06, ‘07, ‘08), Australian Open (‘04, ‘06, ‘07, ‘10, ‘17), French Open (‘09)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-SF, ‘15-RU, ‘14-RU, ‘13-2nd, ‘12-W
Aces: After skipping clay-court season, then losing first match on grass, looked back at his best in winning title at Halle, Germany. … Seeks record-breaking eighth Wimbledon men’s title.
Topspin: Simply can’t count Federer out, as his Australian Open championship in January proved after missing last half of 2016. Time off does him good, clearly.
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RAFAEL NADAL
Seeded: 4
Ranked: 2
Age: 31
Country: Spain
2017 Match Record: 43-6
2017 Singles Titles: 4
Career Singles Titles: 73
Major Titles: 15 — French Open (‘05, ‘06, ‘07, ‘08, ‘10, ‘11, ‘12, ‘13, ‘14, ‘17), Wimbledon (‘08, ‘10), U.S. Open (‘10, ‘13), Australian Open (‘09)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-Did Not Play, ‘15-2nd, ‘14-4th, ‘13-1st, ‘12-2nd
Aces: Enters Wimbledon on a three-week break from competition since winning record 10th French Open title. … Has won a total of five Wimbledon matches over past five years.
Topspin: If his knees hold up, could return to the form that carried him to the final in five consecutive appearances, including two trophies, from 2006-11.
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STAN WAWRINKA
Seeded: 5
Ranked: 3
Age: 32
Country: Switzerland
2017 Match Record: 26-10
2017 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 16
Major Titles: 3 — French Open (‘15), Australian Open (‘14), U.S. Open (‘16)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-2nd, ‘15-QF, ‘14-QF, 13-1st, ‘12-1st
Aces: A Wimbledon championship would make him the ninth man with a career Grand Slam. … After run to Roland Garros final, lost opener on grass at Queen’s Club.
Topspin: Never past quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 12 appearances, needs to stick to an attacking style to try to make a breakthrough.
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MILOS RAONIC
Seeded: 6
Ranked: 7
Age: 26
Country: Canada
2017 Match Record: 22-8
2017 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 8
Major Titles: 0 — Best: RU, Wimbledon (‘16)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-RU, ‘15-3rd, ‘14-SF, ‘13-2nd, ‘12-2nd
Aces: One of four men with 400 aces this season. … First major semifinal and final appearances came at Wimbledon.
Topspin: Big serve carried him to 2016 final and could bring him far again — as long as his body holds up.
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ALEXANDER ZVEREV
Seeded: 10
Ranked: 12
Age: 20
Country: Germany
2017 Match Record: 33-12
2017 Singles Titles: 3
Career Singles Titles: 4
Major Titles: 0 — Best: 3rd, French Open (‘16), Australian Open (‘17), Wimbledon (‘16)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-3rd, ‘15-2nd, ‘14-DNP, ‘13-DNP, ‘12-DNP
Aces: Recently made top-10 ranking debut. … Slid out after first-round French Open exit.
Topspin: By reaching final at grass tuneup, showed his game translates to the slick surface. Now needs to get to second week of a major.
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Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich
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