Five men to watch
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
Age: 27 Career earnings: $65,419,345 Career titles: 45 Why you should watch him: The 2011 champion and top seed will be eager to back up his Wimbledon victory after a wobbly lead-up to New York. Djokovic, seeking an eighth major title, thrives on hardcourts and has reached five finals in the last seven years — two of which he lost to Rafael Nadal, who is sidelined with a wrist injury.
GRIGOR DIMITROV
Age: 23 Career earnings: $4,187,252 Career titles: 4 Why you should watch him: Finally growing into the potential that earned him the (now-disliked) nickname “Baby Fed,” the Bulgarian advanced to his first major semifinal at Wimbledon. This member of the younger set has the creativity and, with the help of coach Roger Rasheed, the grit to do damage.
ROGER FEDERER
Age: 33 Career earnings: $84,035,204 Career titles: 80 Why you should watch him: The five-time U.S. Open champion from Switzerland is the inform player, including his third title of 2014 at the Cincinnati Masters. After a subpar 2013, Federer has a new coach (Stefan Edberg), a bigger racket and improved prospects, but he hasn’t made a New York final since 2009.
ANDY MURRAY
Age: 27 Career earnings: $32,083,768 Career titles: 28 Why you should watch him: The Scot hasn’t won a tournament in more than a year and had back surgery last fall, but he knows how to conquer New York, where he won the first of his two majors in 2012. Can new coach Amelie Mauresmo bring out the magic again?
STAN WAWRINKA
Age: 29 Career earnings: $12,784,810 Career titles: 7 Why you should watch him: Wawrinka reached his first Grand Slam semifinal here a year ago and followed it with his maiden major title at the Australian Open. Now back at another Slam on cement, the free-swinging Swiss is primed for more.