Men to watch at Wimbledon, which begins Monday (rankings in parentheses):

ROGER FEDERER (2)
Age: 27
Country: Switzerland
2009 Match Record: 33-6
2009 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 59
Major Titles: 14 — Wimbledon (’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07), U.S. Open (’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08), Australian Open (’04, ’06, ’07), French Open (’09)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ’08-F, ’07-W, ’06-W, ’05-W, ’04-W
Topspin: Title at Roland Garros this month made him sixth man with a career Grand Slam and allowed him to tie Pete Sampras’ record of 14 major championships. ... Has reached the final at 15 of past 16 majors and the semifinals at a record 20 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments. ... Entered May’s Madrid Open without a title this season, but has won last two tournaments. ... When Nadal upset Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon final, the Spaniard became the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to win at Roland Garros and the All England Club in the same year. Now Federer will attempt to match that.

ANDY MURRAY (3)
Age: 22
Country: Britain
2009 Match Record: 40-6
2009 Singles Titles: 4
Career Singles Titles: 12
Major Titles: 0 — Best: F, at U.S. Open in ’08
Last 5 Wimbledons: ’08-QF, ’07-DNP, ’06-4th, ’05-3rd, ’04-DNP
Topspin: Once again, the Scot will be subjected to intense scrutiny and pressure as British fans hope for their first homegrown male champion at Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936. ... Has progressed one step further each time he’s competed at All England Club. ... Title at Queen’s Club last week was first for a British man at that grass-court tuneup event since 1938.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC (4)
Age: 22
Country: Serbia
2009 Match Record: 43-13
2009 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 13
Major Titles: 1 — Australian Open (’08)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ’08-2nd, ’07-SF, ’06-4th, ’05-3rd, ’04-DNP
Topspin: Took steps back at each of this year’s first two major tournaments, exiting in quarterfinals while defending Australian Open title, then getting surprised by Philipp Kohlschreiber in straight sets in third round at French Open, where he was a semifinalist in 2007 and 2008.

JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO (5)
Age: 20
Country: Argentina
2009 Match Record: 31-9
2009 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 5
Major Titles: 0 — Best: SF, at French Open in ’09
Last 5 Wimbledons: ’08-2nd, ’07-2nd, ’06-DNP, ’05-DNP, ’04-DNP
Topspin: Made first Grand Slam semifinal at Roland Garros, then pushed Federer to five sets. ... 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.

ANDY RODDICK (6)
Age: 26
Country: United States
2009 Match Record: 33-8
2009 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 27
Major Titles: 1 — U.S. Open (’03)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ’08-2nd, ’07-QF, ’06-3rd, ’05-F, ’04-F
Topspin: Hurt his right foot in a freak on-court accident during Queen’s Club tournament last week, but expects to play at Wimbledon. ... Coming off a fourth-round run at French Open, by far his best showing at that Grand Slam event.

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA (9)
Age: 24
Country: France
2009 Match Record: 32-10
2009 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 4
Major Titles: 0 — Best: F, at Australian Open in ’08
Last 5 Wimbledons: ’08-DNP, ’07-4th, ’06-DNP, ’05-DNP, ’04-DNP
Topspin: Missed Wimbledon in 2008 after right knee surgery. ... Part of young crop of French talent that includes No. 7 Gilles Simon.

ROBIN SODERLING (12)
Age: 24
Country: Sweden
2009 Match Record: 18-11
2009 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 3
Major Titles: 0 — Best: F, at French Open in ’09
Last 5 Wimbledons: ’08-2nd, ’07-3rd, ’06-1st, ’05-1st, ’04-1st
Topspin: Quite a breakthrough at Roland Garros, knocking off Nadal, along with other top-15 victories over Nikolay Davydenko, Fernando Gonzalez and David Ferrer, en route to Grand Slam final debut. Never had been past the third round at a major tournament.

MARAT SAFIN (23)
Age: 29
Country: Russia
2009 Match Record: 7-10
2009 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 15
Major Titles: 2 — U.S. Open (’00), Australian Open (’05)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ’08-SF, ’07-3rd, ’06-2nd, ’05-3rd, ’04-1st
Topspin: Says this is his final season on tour, making this his last appearance at Wimbledon. ... Seeded 14th, nine spots above his ranking. ... Last year marked his first trip past the third round at the All England Club since reaching the 2001 quarterfinals. ... A crowd favorite, he’s liable to do just about anything during a match — yell at himself, smash a racket, drop his shorts, play brilliantly or erratically — and say just about anything after it.