Rafael Nadal

• Age: 25
• Nationality: Spanish
• Became Pro: 2001

The current world number two took a lengthy break from tennis to recover from a foot injury after losing to Novak Djokovic in this year's Wimbledon final. But the 10-time Grand Slam winner was stunned by Croatian Ivan Dodig on his return at the Rogers Cup in Montreal at the start of August, when he was beaten by the world number 33 in the second round. He fared a little better in his next outing though, reaching the quarter finals of the Cincinnati Masters before losing to American Mardy. Nadal won his one and only US Open title last year in his first ever final, after twice reaching the last four in 2008 and 2009. Lack of fitness and match practice this time around however, plus the prospect of playing on his least favoured surface, could make success at Flushing Meadows a big ask for the 25-year-old. But write Nadal off at your peril and if we can be certain of only one thing, it is that the determined Spaniard will throw everything into the defence of his title.