Andy Roddick looks like a player on the verge of winning a Grand Slam title after enjoying a hugely successful year.
World ranking: 4
US Open best:
Quarter-final (2001 & 2002)
2000: 1st round
He goes into the US Open as the man to watch following a superb run of form that saw him win back-to-back Masters Series titles in August.
The great American hope has gone a long way to living up to the hype by rising to fourth in the world and winning a tour-leading five tournaments this year.
And he has also made a real impression on the biggest stage by reaching the semi-finals at two of the year's Grand Slams - Australia and Wimbledon.
Roddick has the biggest serve in the game, along with Greg Rusedski, and is capable of blowing away most players.
And the rest of his game has improved markedly since he joined up with coach Brad Gilbert in the summer - especially the backhand.
Roddick can still struggle against the very best opponents, as seen when he was dismantled by Roger Federer at Wimbledon and Pete Sampras at last year's US Open.
But Sampras is no longer around, Roddick has since avenged the defeat to Federer, and there look to be few players capable of living with the American on home soil.