PREVIEW: Federer going for 6th US Open title

TENNIS - World No. 1 Roger Federer can become the first man to win six US Open titles in the Open Era when the 2012 edition begins today. Here we detail this and some other statistical accomplishments Federer can reach at Flushing Meadows.

> Federer has won five US Open titles (2004-08), equal with Jimmy Connors and Pete Sampras for the men’s Open Era record.

> A sixth title would draw the Swiss maestro level with Chris Evert for the most US Open singles titles in the Open Era by a player of either gender.

> Already the owner of seven Wimbledon crowns, Federer can become the first man in the Open Era to win six or more titles at two Grand Slam tournaments. Currently, Federer, Björn Borg (six French Opens, five Wimbledons) and Pete Sampras (seven Wimbledons, five US Opens) are the only men to have won five or more titles at two Grand Slam tournaments.

> Evert (seven French Opens, six US Opens) and Steffi Graf (seven Wimbledons, six French Opens) are the only women’s players to have won six or more titles at two Grand Slam tournaments.

> Having reclaimed his Wimbledon title, Federer can now win the Wimbledon-US Open double in the same year for the fifth time. Connors, Sampras and John McEnroe are the only other men to have done it more than once in the Open Era, having each achieved this feat twice.

> If Federer reaches the semifinals, he will equal Sampras and Ivan Lendl in third place among men’s players in the Open Era with nine US Open semifinal appearances. Only Connors (14) and Andre Agassi (10) have more.

> Federer can reach the quarterfinals for the 34th consecutive time at a Grand Slam tournament to extend his Open Era record.

> If Federer does not win the title, he will have gone four editions without winning the US Open, which will be the longest drought of his career for any Grand Slam tournament that he has previously won. He also has a current drought of three editions at the French Open, which he won for the first and only time in 2009.