TOP PLAYERS | Wimbledon

MEN
Roger Federer (seeded No. 1). Age: 22. Major Titles: Wimbledon ('03), Australian Open ('04). Last 5 Wimbledons: '03-Won Championship, '02-Lost in 1st Round, '01-QF, '00-1st, '99-1st. Topspin: Defending a Grand Slam title for first time. ... Has won 17 straight matches on grass. ... Most beautiful, seemingly effortless game around. No holes. ... Great instincts on returns can neutralize top serves.
Andy Roddick (No. 2). Age: 21. Major Titles: U.S. Open ('03). Last 5 Wimbledons: '03-SF, '02-3rd, '01-3rd, '00-Did Not Play, '99-DNP. Topspin: Broke own record for fastest serve by clocking 153 mph during successful defense of Queen's Club grass-court title. ... Terrific forehand. ... If volleys are solid, should make long run.
David Nalbandian (No. 4). Age: 22. Major Titles: 0 (Best: F, Wimbledon '02). Last 5 Wimbledons: '03-4th, '02-F, '01-DNP, '00-DNP, '99-DNP. Topspin: Fares well at majors, reaching 2002 Wimbledon final, 2003 U.S. Open semifinals.
Tim Henman (No. 5). Age: 29. Major Titles: 0 (Best: SF, four times at Wimbledon, once at French Open). Last 5 Wimbledons: '03-QF, '02-SF, '01-SF, '00-4th, '99-SF. Topspin: Semifinalist at Wimbledon four of the past six years, losing each time to eventual champion. ... Semifinal run at French Open was first time past the fourth round at another major.
Juan Carlos Ferrero (No. 6). Age: 24. Major Titles: French Open ('03). Last 5 Wimbledons: '03-4th, '02-2nd, '01-3rd, '00-DNP, '99-DNP. Topspin: Health still a question mark after bruised ribs hampered French Open title defense; he lost in second round.
Lleyton Hewitt (No. 7). Age: 23. Major Titles: Wimbledon ('02), U.S. Open ('01). Last 5 Wimbledons: '03-1st, '02-W, '01-4th, '00-1st, '99-3rd. Topspin: Last year, just second defending champion to lose in the first round since Wimbledon began in 1877.
Mark Philippoussis (No. 11). Age: 27. Major Titles: 0 (Best: F, Wimbledon '03, U.S. Open '98). Last 5 Wimbledons: '03-F, '02-4th, '01-DNP, '00-QF, '99-QF. Topspin: Booming serve can keep him in any match on grass. ... Pounded 46 aces in upset of Andre Agassi at Wimbledon last year.
Mardy Fish (No. 14). Age: 22. Major Titles: 0 (Best: 3rd, Wimbledon '03, Australian Open '03). Last 5 Wimbledons: '03-3rd, '02-DNP, '01-1st, '00-DNP, '99-DNP. Topspin: If right hip holds up, his serve-and-volley game could cause trouble for opponents.
Marat Safin (No. 19). Age: 24. Major Titles: U.S. Open ('00). Last 5 Wimbledons: '03-DNP, '02-2nd, '01-QF, '00-2nd, '99-DNP. Topspin: Only major where he's never reached the semifinals.
Goran Ivanisevic (unseeded). Age: 32. Major Titles: Wimbledon ('01). Last 5 Wimbledons: '03-DNP, '02-DNP, '01-W, '00-1st, '99-4th. Topspin: Playing final tournament of pro career that began in 1988. ... Highlight was Wimbledon championship in 2001, beating Patrick Rafter 9-7 in fifth set on Monday.
WOMEN
Serena Williams (No. 1). Age: 22. Major Titles: Wimbledon ('02, '03), U.S. Open ('99, '02), Australian Open ('03), French Open ('02). Last 5 Wimbledons: '03-Won Championship, '02-W, '01-Lost in Quarterfinals, '00-SF, '99-Did Not Play. Topspin: Played just 19 matches over past 12 months. ... Left knee surgery Aug. 1. ... Lost to Jennifer Capriati in French Open quarterfinals, earliest Slam exit since 2000 Australian Open.
Anastasia Myskina (No. 2). Age: 22. Major Titles: French Open ('04). Last 5 Wimbledons: '03-4th, '02-3rd, '01-2nd, '00-3rd, '99-DNP. Topspin: Career-best ranking, seeding at a major. ... Coming off first major title at French Open; never before past the quarterfinals at any Slam.
Venus Williams (No. 3). Age: 24. Major Titles: Wimbledon ('00, '01), U.S. Open ('00, '01). Last 5 Wimbledons: '03-F, '02-F, '01-W, '00-W, '99-QF. Topspin: After run of five finals in six majors (losing to Serena each time), has lost in third round and quarterfinals at last two Slam tournaments. ... Three years without a major title.
Amelie Mauresmo (No. 4). Age: 24. Major Titles: 0 (Best: F, Australian Open '99). Last 5 Wimbledons: '03-DNP, '02-SF, '01-3rd, '00-1st, '99-DNP. Topspin: Will be relieved not to play with French Open's pressure of home fans' expectations.
Lindsay Davenport (No. 5). Age: 27. Major Titles: Wimbledon ('99), U.S. Open ('98), Australian Open ('00). Last 5 Wimbledons: '03-QF, '02-DNP, '01-SF, '00-F, '99-W. Topspin: Curiously, performance has worsened by exactly one round in each Wimbledon appearance since 1999 title.
Elena Dementieva (No. 6). Age: 22. Major Titles: 0 (Best: F, French Open '04). Last 5 Wimbledons: '03-4th, '02-4th, '01-3rd, '00-1st, '99-1st. Topspin: Serve, long a glaring weakness, completely fell apart at Roland Garros; 10 double-faults in that final raised her total to 67 over seven matches.
Jennifer Capriati (No. 7). Age: 28. Major Titles: French Open ('01), Australian Open ('01, '02). Last 5 Wimbledons: '03-QF, '02-QF, '01-SF, '00-4th, '99-2nd. Topspin: Youngest Wimbledon semifinalist at 15 in 1991; didn't make it that far at All England Club again until 2001.
Svetlana Kuznetsova (No. 8). Age: 18, turns 19 on June 27. Major Titles: 0 (Best: QF, Wimbledon '03). Last 5 Wimbledons: '03-QF, '02-DNP, '01-DNP, '00-DNP, '99-DNP. Topspin: Held match point against eventual champion Myskina in fourth round at French Open.
Nadia Petrova (No. 10). Age: 22. Major Titles: 0 (Best: SF, French Open '03). Last 5 Wimbledons: '03-3rd, '02-DNP, '01-4th, '00-2nd, '99-2nd. Topspin: Hits hard from both sides.
Maria Sharapova (No. 13). Age: 17. Major Titles: 0 (Best: QF, French Open '04). Last 5 Wimbledons: '03-4th, '02-DNP, '01-DNP, '00-DNP, '99-DNP. Topspin: A year ago, matched best showing by a female wild card at Wimbledon. ... Won title on grass at Birmingham, England, last week.
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