MEN’S PLAYERS TO WATCH

Novak Djokovic Ranked: Country:

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■ 79 33 1 Serbia

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■ 21-0 in 2020 entering semifinals at Western & Southern Open . ... Has won 5 of past 7 Grand Slam tournaments . ... Had reached at least the semifinals in 11 consecutive U.S. Open appearances until departing while hampered by injury last year . ... Can gain on rivals Roger Federer (men’s record 20 Grand Slam titles) and Rafael Nadal (19), neither of whom entered the U.S. Open.

■ Could play bigserving John Isner in fourth round.

Grand Slam singles titles: Aces: Matchup to watch for: Dominic Thiem Ranked: Country:

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■ 16 26 3 Austria

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■ 0-3 in Grand Slam finals so far, with two losses to Rafael Nadal at the French Open and one to Novak Djokovic at this year’s Australian Open . ... Played 28 exhibition matches while sanctioned tennis was shut down because of the pandemic . ... His physical baseline game can wear down many opponents.

■ Could play 2014 U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic in the third round.

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Grand Slam singles titles: Aces: Matchup to watch for: Daniil Medvedev Ranked: Country:

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■ 7 24 5 Russia

Grand Slam singles titles: Aces:

0 Reached the finals at six consecutive hard-court tournaments a year ago,including a five-set loss to Rafael Nadal at Flushing Meadows. ... His versatile game and in-match adjustments make things tough for any opponent.

■ Could play Grigor Dimitrov or Frances Tiafoe — two players who each tested positive for the coronavirus — in the fourth round.

Matchup to watch for: Stefanos Tsitsipas Ranked: Country:

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■ 5 22 6 Greece

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■ With great hands and a freeflowing game, seems poised for a long run at the top of tennis . ... Ranks just 62nd on tour over the past 52 weeks in percentage of return games won at 35.9%.

■ Could play Alexander Zverev in a quarterfinal between two younger players people have pegged as future Grand Slam champs.

Grand Slam singles titles: Aces: Matchup to watch for: Alexander Zverev Ranked: Country:

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■ 11 23 7 U.S.

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■ Averaging 6 double-faults per match over the past 12 months; only two players are hitting more over that span . ... If he can figure out that weakness, could do big things, because the rest of his game is solid . ... Made career-best Grand Slam run in January at the Australian Open, erasing some questions about his performances on the sport’s most important stages.

■ Plays two-time Grand Slam runner-up Kevin Anderson in the first round.

Grand Slam singles titles: Aces: Matchup to watch for:

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