Keep an eye on these Fab 5

1. Andre Agassi (No. 13)
Agassi would like to build momentum for the U.S. Open, which begins Aug. 31. He won titles here in 1995 and '96 but came in last year with a wild card and had to face Gustavo Kuerten in the first round (Agassi lost quickly).

Agassi will likely be seeded this year and have a better path to the final. Because of his recent success on the ATP Tour -- he won in Washington last Sunday -- his past success here and his remarkable improvement from a year ago, we're picking him to capture this year's Great American Insurance ATP Championship.

2. Pete Sampras (No. 1)
SAMPRAS It's never a bad move to pick Sampras to win a tennis tournament, and the way he strolled through the field last year, predicting the ATP defending champion to get to the final and win again isn't exactly what you'd call going out on a limb.

But Sampras is recovering from minor foot surgery in mid-July, and his focus is on the U.S. Open. For those reasons, we're making him our second choice in the ATP derby.

3. Marcelo Rios (No. 2)
The 22-year-old from Chile has yet to win a Grand Slam title but has had success in the Mercedes Super 9 events, of which Cincinnati is one. Rios won at Key Biscayne, Fla.; at Indian Wells, Calif.; and at Rome. His consistency will serve him well here, and, if he is healthy, we expect him to make a run for the ATP title.
4. Patrick Rafter (No. 5)
Since his U.S. Open victory last September, Rafter's only victories have come in India (April) and The Netherlands (June). But he is a strong hardcourt player who had some success at the ATP Tennis Center last year.

Rafter got to the round of 16 before losing to Sampras, and he and Mark Philippoussis advanced to the final of the doubles competition. We think he may be ready for another big victory.

5. Michael Chang (No. 16)
This is what it has come to. Chang, a two-time ATP winner, hasn't captured the title since 1994, so now he is considered a long-shot among the top contenders. Still, this is not a tournament in which Chang can be counted out.

He has always played well in Cincinnati, and we expect no less again. There is no more fitting a place for Chang to win his first title of the year than right here.