Associated Press tennis writer Howard Fendrich sizes up the top men's contenders (seedings in parentheses):

Andre Agassi (1)

Age: 33

Country: United States

2003 Match Record: 39-7

2003 Singles Titles: 4

Career Hard-Court Titles: 39

Major Titles: U.S. ('94, '99), Australian Open ('95, '00, '01, '03), French ('99), Wimbledon ('92)

Last 5 U.S. Opens: '02-Final, '01-Quarterfinals, '00-2nd Round, '99-Won, '98-4th Round

Noteworthy: At 33, oldest No. 1 in rankings history. ... Favorable draw should help him reach semifinals for ninth time in 18 U.S. Open appearances.

Roger Federer (2)

Country: Switzerland

2003 Match Record: 56-11

2003 Singles Titles: 5

Career Hard-Court Titles: 2

Major Titles: Wimbledon ('03)

Last 5 U.S. Opens: '02-4th, '01-4th, '00-3rd, '99-Did Not Play, '98-DNP

Noteworthy: Boasts all-court game. ... Draw put him in toughest quarter, with Wimbledon runner-up Mark Philippoussis, James Blake and David Nalbandian (4-0 vs. Federer).

Andy Roddick (4)

Country: United States

2003 Match Record: 55-13

2003 Singles Titles: 5

Career Hard-Court Titles: 4

Major Titles: None (Best: SF)

Last 5 U.S. Opens: '02-QF, '01-QF, '00-1st, '99-DNP, '98-DNP

Noteworthy: 20-1 with three titles on summer hard-court circuit, 30-2 since hiring Brad Gilbert as coach.

Guillermo Coria (5)

Country: Argentina

2003 Match Record: 50-13

2003 Singles Titles: 4

Career Hard-Court Titles: 0

Major Titles: None (Best: SF)

Last 5 U.S. Opens: '02-3rd, '01-DNP, '00-DNP, '99-DNP, '98-DNP

Noteworthy: In July-August, became first player since 1996 to win titles three straight weeks. ... All career titles came on clay.

Mark Philippoussis (20)

Country: Australia

2003 Match Record: 27-13

2003 Singles Titles: 0

Career Hard-Court Titles: 2

Major Titles: None (Best: Finalist)

Last 5 U.S. Opens: '02-1st, '01-DNP, '00-2nd, '99-DNP, '98-F

Noteworthy: Big serve that carried him to Wimbledon final in July could carry him far again.