Roger Federer
World ranking: 1
Height: 1,85m
Weight: 80kg
Career singles titles: 54
Grand Slam singles titles: 12
Best French Open result: Runner-up (2006, 2007) -
Currently enduring one of his least successful seasons and will arrive in Paris having slumped to his eighth defeat on clay to Nadal at the Hamburg Masters. Roland Garros remains the only Slam title to elude Federer. Is pinning his hopes on Nadal physically breaking down.
Rafael Nadal
World ranking: 2
Height: 1,85m
Weight: 85kg
Career singles titles: 26
Grand Slam singles titles: 3
Best French Open result: Champion (2005, 2006, 2007) - Nadal boasts a perfect record at Roland Garros of three titles and 21 wins in 21 matches, as well as the intimidating statistic of 108 victories in his last 110 matches on clay. If he remains injury-free, should cruise to join Bjorn Borg as a four-in-a-row winner.
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Novak Djokovic
World ranking: 3
Height: 1,87m
Weight: 80kg
Career singles titles: 10
Grand Slam singles titles: 1
Best French Open result: Semifinalist (2007) - World's leading player in 2008 with a first Grand Slam title - the Australian Open - under his belt and two of the season's Masters titles, in Indian Wells and on clay in Rome. Just lost out in a three-set marathon semifinal to Nadal in Hamburg to further hammer home his credentials.
Nikolay Davydenko
World ranking: 4
Height: 1,77m
Weight: 70kg
Career singles titles: 12
Grand Slam singles titles: 0
Career prize money: $8366742
Best French Open result: Semifinalist (2005, 2007) - Tennis' nearly-man, playing and living in the shadow of the world's top three and unlikely to break into that rarified atmosphere. Tricky, dogged opponent who made the last four on clay in Monte Carlo this year but has struggled since.
- This article was originally published on page 26 of The Star on May 22, 2008
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