Roddick welcomes his newfound role

NEW YORK -- When the first ball is struck today at the U.S. Open, the sport will be witnessing a passing of the torch, particularly from an American standpoint.

Pete Sampras, the defending champion and arguably the greatest men's player ever, will make his retirement official tonight.

One has to wonder whether Andre Agassi, the top seed on the men's side, will make similar plans if he prevails. Already the oldest player to hold the No. 1 ranking, Agassi, 31, finally may be starting to show his age. Michael Chang will close out his career this week, and with Jim Courier already a couple of years into his retirement, perhaps the greatest collection of players this country ever has produced soon will be on the sidelines.

They will be tough to replace, but Andy Roddick says he's ready.

After a couple of years in which the hype exceeded the results, Roddick, currently the No. 1 player on the men's tour and the fourth seed at the Open, is playing up to the plaudits.

"I feel like I've deserved the hype this year a little bit more so than the other years," Roddick said. "The other years, maybe people, especially in America, were kind of hoping that I would come through and do well and maybe hoping a little bit too much."

When the "Quartet" was in its prime, the spotlight was cast in many directions -- Sampras for his elegance and dominance, Agassi for his charisma, Chang and Courier for their dogged determination.

Once Agassi leaves, the high beams will focus squarely on the 20-year old Roddick.

"I was pretty lucky, Pete and Andre were both playing when I kind of started to make my move, and Andre is still playing great tennis," Roddick said.

No one has been hotter than Roddick during the summer hardcourt season. He took over the top spot in the tour standings with his title in Cincinnati and, since bowing out in the semifinals of Wimbledon, has compiled a 21-1 record.

If there were any questions regarding the integrity of the draw for the tournament, they were answered when Roddick was matched up against Tim Henman in the first round. Henman, tennis' answer to Phil Mickelson, is the only player to beat Roddick this summer. USTA and CBS officials no doubt will be holding their breath throughout the match.

"I imagine he wasn't too happy about it either," Roddick said of Henman, who has fallen so far that he isn't even seeded but still is a savvy, dangerous veteran. "First round, third round, whatever, you still have to beat seven guys if you want to win the tournament," Roddick said.

While it may not matter to Roddick, it does to tournament officials who already are managing a field lacking in star power. If Roddick or Agassi -- who also has a tough first-round matchup against Alex Corretja -- has an early exit, it could be a disaster for television executives, who already are without two of the biggest stars on the women's side.

Defending champion Serena Williams is out after having knee surgery, and her sister, Venus, withdrew with a stomach injury Friday.

With the Williams sisters on the sidelines, the rest of the field has a huge opportunity. The sisters have won the last four Open titles, with Serena defeating Venus in the most recent final and Venus winning in 2000 and 2001.

Serena, who lost her No. 1 ranking because of her injury, has won five of the last six Slam tournaments she has played.

"They've dominated the Grand Slams the last few years," said third-seeded Lindsay Davenport, who may not have another chance as good to win another Grand Slam title.

Like the American men, the American women also may see a changing of the guard, with Davenport and Jennifer Capriati entering the back ends of their careers and Monica Seles, also out of the tournament with an injury, nearing retirement.

With both Williams sisters out, the pressure will be even greater on Roddick to hold the interest of an American audience for two weeks. After just hoping to play well at the Open the last two years, Roddick goes to New York wanting to win.

"I definitely want to step up and play well," he said.

Interest in American tennis may depend on it.