A look at the 2011 U.S. Open

What: The year's last Grand Slam tournament

When: Monday-Sept. 11

Where: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York

TV: ESPN2, Tennis Channel, CBS

Purse: $23.7 million, with a record $1.8 million each to the singles champions

Last year: Rafael Nadal beat Novak Djokovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 for his first U.S. Open title, becoming the seventh man in tennis history to complete a career Grand Slam. On the women's side, Kim Clijsters won her second consecutive U.S. Open title and third overall by beating Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 6-1.

1. Novak Djokovic, Serbia; 2. Rafael Nadal, Spain; 3. Roger Federer, Switzerland; 4. Andy Murray, Great Britain; 5. David Ferrer, Spain; 6. Robin Soderling, Sweden; 7. Gael Monfils, France; 8. Mardy Fish, United States

Djokovic's record this season is 57-2 -- including 5-0 vs. Nadal -- the best start since John McEnroe went 59-2 to begin 1984.

Djokovic, Nadal and Federer have combined to win 25 of the past 26 men's Grand Slam championships.

Three-time U.S. Open champion Serena Williams returns to Flushing Meadows after missing the 2010 tournament. She was sidelined for nearly a full year because of a series of health scares; since coming back to the tour in June, she has won two titles. Patrick McEnroe called Williams "the most dangerous 28th seed in the history of the U.S. Open." Older sister Venus is not seeded.

Clijsters withdrew from this year's tournament because of a stomach muscle injury.

Hurricane Irene is due to hit Long Island on Sunday. It's an ominous beginning for the season's final major, which is scheduled to conclude on a somber note, with the men's final to be contested on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.