Nicolas Mahut
Singles Seed 4, France
Frenchman Nicolas Mahut remains one of the favorites to win the singles title at this year’s Farmers Classic, especially considering one of the names he’s already beaten this year.
Mahut owns a match victory over Englishman Andy Murray, the runner-up at this year’s Wimbledon Grand Slam tournament. As the No. 4 seed, Mahut is already through to the Round of 16 as the top four seeds all earned byes, automatically advancing out of the first round.
The next step for Mahut will be to close the deal at a tournament. So far this year, Mahut’s best finish is advancing to the quarterfinals at two tournaments. Currently, Mahut is the No. 66 singles player in the world.
With a win over Murray in June, the then-No. 4 seed, in his back pocket Mahut should have the added confidence of knowing he will not face a higher ranked player than Murray at this tournament.
Though a number of challengers remain, the tournament’s No. 1 seed is 23-year-old Frenchman Benoit Paire. Paire is the No. 47 singles player in the world.
The 30-year old Mahut has as strong a chance as anyone to take home the tournament’s singles title.
Behind the Numbers
66: Mahut is currently the No. 66 singles player in the world. His highest-ever ranking was when he reached No. 40 in 2008.
0-15: Mahut has yet to win an ATP event in 15 tries this year. He is 13-12 in singles matches so far.
Q (twice): His best finish this year has been reaching the quarterfinals of two tournaments, both in France.
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Xavier Malisse
Singles Seed 5 & Doubles Unseeded, Belgium
Xavier Malisse will have the unique opportunity to go for a tournament double this week at the Farmers Classic.
Malisse, last year’s doubles champion, is the No. 5 seed in the singles tournament though he is not among the top four seeds in the doubles bracket. So far this year, Malisse has won one doubles title and has yet to win a singles title.
Currently, Malisse is the No. 42 doubles player and No. 71 singles player in the world. His only title this year came in San Jose in March playing alongside Mark Knowles. Instead of Knowles, who was Malisse’s tournament partner last year, his playing partner this week will be fellow Belgian Ruben Bemelmans.
Malisse has not advanced past the first round of the tournament in Los Angeles since advancing to the quarterfinals in 2005, a string of four consecutive losses. Malisse’s best finish in L.A. was advancing to the semifinals in 2001 before bowing out to then-No. 12 seed Pete Sampras.
The Belgian’s experience in the tournament, eight singles and four doubles appearances, should serve him well this week as he looks to pull off upsets in both brackets.
Behind the Numbers
42: Malisse is currently ranked the No. 42 doubles player in the world. His highest career ranking was when he reached No. 25 in 2011.
1-14: Malisse has won one doubles title this year in 15 events. Malisse and then-teammate Mark Knowles won at San Jose in March.
1st: He has reached two event finals, with one first-place finish this year.
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James Blake
Singles Unseeded, USA
Though unseeded in the main singles draw, American James Blake remains one of the favorites to win the tournament.
At 32 years old, Blake is clearly not the player he once was. At one time ranked No. 4 in the world in 2006 when he won a career-best five ATP titles, the right-hander is currently ranked No. 110.
Blake has yet to win a tournament this year, including a quick exit at this year’s Wimbledon Grand Slam tournament. Blake lost his first match in four sets to German Benjamin Becker. In eight events so far this year, Blake’s best finish remains a quarterfinal appearance at a tournament in Florida.
However, Blake’s aggressive style of play should serve him well on the hard court at the Los Angeles Tennis Center.
Blake reached the tournament final in L.A. in 2007 before losing to Radek Stepanek, then-No. 101 in the world. Last year at the Farmers Classic, Blake won his first-round matchup before losing to then-No. 19 singles player Juan MartÃn del Potro. Del Potro is not playing in this year’s event. Blake is back, however, and will be looking to re-establish himself as a force on the tour.
Behind the Numbers
110: Blake is ranked as the No. 110 singles player in the world. His highest career ranking was when he reached No. 4 in 2006.
0-8: The American has yet to win an ATP event in 2012 in eight tries.
Q: Blake’s best finish this year was reaching the quarterfinals in Sarasota, Fla. He lost in straight sets, 3-6 and 2-6, to Italian Paolo Lorenzi.
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Jonathan Marray
Doubles Seed 2, England
Entering the Farmers Classic, Englishman Jonathan Marray is likely hoping he’ll need just one shirt again this week.
During his run to the doubles title at the Wimbledon Grand Slam tournament in early July, Marray notably wore just one shirt throughout the tournament which he washed after each round. Marray also did not play with his originally scheduled partner at the tournament and instead played with Frederik Nielsen as a wild card entry.
What followed was a fairy tale run through the tournament as Marray became the first British player to win the doubles title since 1936, and the duo became the first-ever wild card entry to win the doubles title.
This week, Marray will play alongside Australian Colin Ebelthite who is currently ranked No. 107 in the world in doubles. Marray is the No. 22 doubles player in the world.
He has reached the finals of five other doubles events this year, but will also be paired with Ebelthite for the first time this year.
The duo are the No. 2 seed in the doubles bracket and anything short of a run to the finals will be a disappointment for Marray.
Behind the Numbers
22: Marray is currently ranked the No. 22 doubles player in the world, having reached his highest career ranking, No. 21, earlier this year.
3-15: Marray has won three doubles events this year, including a win at the Wimbledon Grand Slam tournament.
1st: His best finishes this year were first-place titles in England, Italy and Bosnia and Herzegovina.