Profiles of the top contenders for the 2012 Australian Open. Note: Grand Slam records for main draw matches only. – by Jack Cunniff http://twitter.com/jrcunniff
1. Novak Djokovic
2011 Record: 70-6
Grand Slam Record: 110-24
Australian Open Record: 25-5
Australian Open Best Result: W (2008, ’11)
Fast Fact: If Djokovic wins the title, he becomes only the fourth player to win three Australian titles in the Open Era (Wilander, Agassi, Federer).
2. Rafael Nadal
2011 Record: 69-15
Grand Slam Record: 143-20
Australian Open Record: 29-6
Australian Open Best Result: W (2009)
Fast Fact: Nadal has 17 appearances in Grand Slam semifinals, but only two at the Australian Open (2008, ’09)
3. Roger Federer
2011 Record: 64-12
Grand Slam Record: 228-34
Australian Open Record: 59-8
Australian Open Best Result: W (2004, ’06, ’07, ‘10)
Fast Fact: Federer’s last Grand Slam loss to a player outside of the Top 20 was at the 2004 French Open (Kuerten).
4. Andy Murray
2011 Record: 56-13
Grand Slam Record: 78-24
Australian Open Record: 18-6
Australian Open Best Result: RU (2010-‘11)
Fast Fact: Murray is looking to be the first player to make three consecutive Australian Open finals since his new coach Ivan Lendl accomplished that feat in 1989-’91.
5. David Ferrer
2011 Record: 59-17
Grand Slam Record: 74-36
Australian Open Record: 19-9
Australian Open Best Result: SF (2011)
Fast Fact: Ferrer has reached at least the 4R in his last six Grand Slam events.
6. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
2011 Record: 55-23
Grand Slam Record: 49-17
Australian Open Record: 17-5
Australian Open Best Result: 4R (2009)
Fast Fact: At the Australian Open, Tsonga has a winning record against Top Ten players (5-3).
7. Tomas Berdych
2011 Record: 53-23
Grand Slam Record: 65-33
Australian Open Record: 16-8
Australian Open Best Result: QF (2011)
Fast Fact: Berdych has not missed a Grand Slam event since making his debut at the 2003 US Open; this will be his 34th consecutive Slam.
8. Mardy Fish
2011 Record: 44-25
Grand Slam Record: 44-35
Australian Open Record: 13-9
Australian Open Best Result: QF (2007)
Fast Fact: Fish has advanced past the third round of the Australian Open only once.
9. Janko Tipsarevic
2011 Record: 54-26
Grand Slam Record: 30-31
Australian Open Record: 7-7
Australian Open Best Result: 3R (2008)
Fast Fact: Eight of Tipsarevic’s matches at the Australian Open have been five set matches.
10. Nicolas Almagro
2011 Record: 47-23
Grand Slam Record: 35-29
Australian Open Record: 8-7
Australian Open Best Result: 4R (2010, ‘11)
Fast Fact: Almagro has a losing career record on hardcourts (54-67).
11. Juan Martin Del Potro
2011 Record: 48-18
Grand Slam Record: 39-18
Australian Open Record: 10-5
Australian Open Best Result: QF (2009)
Fast Fact: Del Potro won the ATP’s 2011 Comeback Player of the Year Award; only once has a player won a Grand Slam title after winning the award (Muster, 1995 French Open)
12. Gilles Simon
2011 Record: 39-27
Grand Slam Record: 35-23
Australian Open Record: 9-5
Australian Open Best Result: QF (2009)
Fast Fact: Simon lost five of his last six matches to end 2011.
13. Alexandr Dolgopolov
2011 Record: 38-29
Grand Slam Record: 12-7
Australian Open Record: 7-5
Australian Open Best Result: QF (2011)
Fast Fact: Dolgopolov has won only two matches against Top Ten opponents (Soderling, 2011 Australian Open; Ferrer, 2011 Nice).
14. Gael Monfils
2011 Record: 38-16
Grand Slam Record: 49-24
Australian Open Record: 10-6
Australian Open Best Result: 4R (2009)
Fast Fact: In winning the 2004 Boys Australian Open title, Monfils dropped only 25 games in six matches.
15. Andy Roddick
2011 Record: 34-16
Grand Slam Record: 125-41
Australian Open Record: 37-10
Australian Open Best Result: SF (2003, ’05, ’07, ‘09)
Fast Fact: Roddick had only victory over a Top Ten player in 2011 (d. No. 5 Ferrer, US Open)
