Federer just turned 29, and we all know a decline, perhaps already underway, is inevitable. But of the last six U.S. Opens, the great Swiss has been to the final every time — and the only man to beat him in that stretch isn't playing this year. Federer knows time is short to improve on his record 16 Grand Slam titles and he'd love nothing more than to prove he still has what it takes. Fresh off a title in Cincinnati, he once again has to be considered the man to beat.

If motivation matters, then Nadal is the favorite. The U.S. Open is the Spaniard's primary goal as it is the last piece of his Career Slam puzzle. He has been planning for this since Wimbledon, managing to keep himself healthy this year as he marches into Queens with the top seed and the world No. 1 ranking. His two hard-court tune-ups produced zero titles for him, but Nadal is still the game's best all-around player. Count him out at your own peril.

What a rollercoaster year for Murray. The Scot made the Aussie Open final, where he lost to Roger Federer without much fight. His game fell apart in the following months, with reports suggesting he had lost interest in the game. But he has stormed back since, winning the title in Toronto two weeks ago. At a time when there's no clear favorite for the hard-court Slam, Murray has to be considered one of them.

Berdych has not had a strong summer with his best result being a quarterfinal loss in Toronto in which he gave Roger Federer a fierce three-set push. The Wimbledon and Miami finalist has tremendous potential, though, and the heavy strokes to hit through the game's best at the U.S. Open. No one will want to see him in their portion of the draw.

That 2003 U.S. Open title is becoming more of a distant memory all the time, but Roddick's outlook in New York received a boost when the draw came out Thursday. Roddick — who has recently shown flashes of the rejuvenated game that led him agonizingly close to a Wimbledon title in 2009 — is in the same quarter with Djokovic and Davydenko, whom he is 10-3 all-time against combined. A place in the semifinals at least is certainly doable.

The injury-plagued Nalbandian has charged back onto the scene this summer, winning the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington DC and making a solid run in Toronto. With a good draw and a good break or two, Nalbandian just might help Argentina repeat at the U.S. Open.

Andy Roddick may well end up the last American standing in New York, but don't count out this guy. Fish has flown up to No. 21 in the rankings with an impressive summer. Just this month he's beaten Andy Murray and Roddick and pushed Roger Federer to the brink in the Cincinnati final. Fish is playing better than any other American as we speak and he's 5-2 against top 10 players this year. It just might be enough momentum to make a run in Flushing.

Amazingly, Djokovic hasn't defeated a single player in the top 12 this year. In fact, he's only played four matches against top 12 foes in 2010 — Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Fernando Verdasco (twice) and Roger Federer. Add the lack of big-time matches to his recurring health issues, and you have a recipe for an early exit in New York.

Davydenko looked like the best player in the world as the year began. He won the World Tour Finals to cap 2009 then beat Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in succession to win the 2010 opener in Dubai. Since then, he hasn't made a final and has lost seven times to players ranked No. 50 or higher. He's still the No. 6 seed, but don't expect to see him at the end.

The two-time French Open finalist seems to have the heavy-hitting game that's well-suited to the hard courts of North America, but Soderling has not had a memorable summer. He made the quarterfinals in New York last year, but it'll be a tall task for the No. 5 seed to make it that far in 2010.

Injuries will keep defending champion Juan Martin del Potro out of the 2010 U.S. Open, and plenty of players are hungry to take his place. Who has the best shot? We break down the chances of some of the most notable names.