ROGER FEDERER (SUI)

World ranking 1
Age: 28 (08.08.1981)
Birthplace: Basel, Switzerland
Residence: Bottmingen, Switzerland
Height: 6'1" (185 cm), Weight: 187 lbs (85 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 1998
Grand Slam Titles: 15 (2004, 2006, 2007 Australian Open, 2009 French Open, 2003-07 and 2009 Wimbledon, 2004-2008 US Open
Career Tour titles: 61
Best US Open result: Winner 2004-2008

Aiming to become the first man to win the US Open six years running and will once again start a strong favourite. Federer has had a remarkable year to date. He lost to Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final and failed to win a tournament in the first five months of the year before completing his career Grand Slam in the French Open and regaining his Wimbledon crown. He is back to the world number one spot and won the Cincinnati Masters last week.

ANDY MURRAY (GBR)

World ranking 2
Age: 22 (15.05.1987)
Birthplace: Dunblane, Scotland
Residence: Dunblane, Scotland
Height: 6'3" (190 cm), Weight: 185 lbs (84 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 2005
Grand Slam Titles: 0
Career Tour Titles: 13
Best US Open result: Runner-Up 2008

Winner of a season-best five titles this year, Murray has ended the four-year long Federer-Nadal domination of the top two world ranking spots and the belief is widespread that he is ready to win his first Grand Slam title. Made the final here last year but was swept aside in straight sets by a rampant Federer. Has made more progress since then especially in terms of fitness and has an impressive 6-3 winning record against the Swiss star.

RAFAEL NADAL (ESP)

World ranking 3
Age: 23 (03.06.1986)
Birthplace: Manacor, Mallorca, Spain
Residence: Manacor, Mallorca, Spain
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
Weight: 188 lbs (85 kg)
Plays: Left-handed
Turned Pro: 2001
Grand Slam Titles: 6 (2009 Australian Open, 2005-2008 French Open, 2008 Wimbledon)
Career Tour Titles: 36
Best US Open result: Semi-finals 2008

Nadal's season has been in stark contrast to that of Federer. Dominant at the start of the year when he won his first Australian Open, the Spaniard paid the price for his physical exertions when he lost for the first time at Roland Garros going down to eventual finalist Robin Soderling. He then took 10 weeks out to heal his aching knees and has been less than convincing on his return to action. Needs a US Open title to become just the seventh man to win all four Grand Slam titles.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC (SRB)

World ranking 4
Age: 22 (22.05.1987)
Birthplace: Belgrade, Serbia
Residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco
Height: 6'2" (188 cm), Weight: 176 lbs (80 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 2003
Grand Slam Titles: 1 (2008 Australian Open)
Career Tour Titles: 13
Best US Open result: Runner-up 2007

After a breakthrough season in 2008 when he won his first Grand Slam title in Melbourne and rose to number three in the world rankings, Djokovic has had a steady if unspectacular year in 2009. Has failed to make it past the quarter-finals in any of the Grand Slam tournaments, but won in Dubai and took Nadal to the limit on clay in Madrid. Reached the final at the US Open in 2007 where he lost in straight sets to Federer.

ANDY RODDICK (USA)

World ranking 5
Age: 26 (30.08.1982)
Birthplace: Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Residence: Austin, Texas, USA
Height: 6'2" (188 cm), Weight: 195 lbs (88 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 2000
Grand Slam Titles: 1 (2003 US Open)
Career Tour Titles: 27
Best US Open result: Winner 2003

Credits his marriage and a healthier diet for improving his mobility about the court this year. Played well on clay at the French Open and then produced his best display in years to reach the Wimbledon final where he took Federer to a marathon five sets before losing. Lost twice to Juan Martin del Potro in the buildup to New York. Lost to Federer in four sets in the US Open final in 2006

JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO (ARG)

World ranking 6
Age: 20 (23.09.1988)
Birthplace: Tandil, Argentina
Residence: Tandil, Argentina
Height: 6'6" (198 cm), Weight: 182 lbs (83 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 2005
Grand Slam Titles: 0
Career Tour Titles: 6
Best US Open result: Quarter-finals 2008

The giant Argentinian is the youngest player currently in the top 10 and his progress has been spectacular over the last year. Took Federer to the limit in the French Open semi-final before losing in the Wimbledon second round to Lleyton Hewitt. Won the Washington tournament earlier this month to underline his threat, but fitness let him down in the Montreal Masters against Murray and that could tell against him in New York where he lost in the quarter-finals last year.

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA (FRA)

World ranking 7
Age: 24 (17.04.1985)
Birthplace: Le Mans, France
Residence: La Rippe, Switzerland
Height: 6'2" (188 cm), Weight: 200 lbs (91 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro 2004
Grand Slam Titles: 0
Career Tour Titles: 4
Best US Open result: Third round 2007, 08

The Frenchman won two tiles early in the year but failed to get past the fourth round at either the French Open or Wimbledon. Has blown hot and cold in the buildup to Flushing Meadows losing early in Washington before reaching the semi-finals at the Montreal Masters where he lost a close one to Andy Murray. Tsonga has yet to make it past the third round at the US Open but he was the junior champion in New York in 2003 and loves the big occasion.

FERNANDO VERDASCO (ESP)
World ranking 10
Age: 25 (15.11.1983)
Birthplace: Madrid, Spain
Residence: Madrid, Spain
Height: 6'2" (188 cm), Weight: 179 lbs (81 kg)
Plays: Left-handed
Turned Pro 2001
Grand Slam titles: 0
Career Tour Titles 2
Best US Open result: Fourth round 2005

Stepped up a level at the start of the year with a run to the Australian Open semi-finals where he took Nadal all the way before losing in five sets. Lost in the fourth round at the French Open and Wimbledon and struggled since then until the Montreal Masters where he was unlucky to lose to Roddick in a top quality third round tie. Could be running into form at the right time for New York