US Open: men's and women's hopes 2017
Rafael Nadal (Spain)
Age: 31
Ranking: 1
Career prize money: $108.69 million
Grand slam titles: 15
Best US Open results: champion 2010, 2013
The clay court colossus has crowned his stunning renaissance with a return to world No.1 but will need to break a near four-year title drought on hard courts to reign for the third time in New York.
Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic)
Age: 25
Ranking: 1
Career prize money: $A11.72 million
Grand slam titles: 0
Best US Open result: finalist 2016
A deserved world No.1 in Serena Williams' absence after a tour-best 42 wins and three titles in 2017 but needs a grand slam crown to convince the sceptics.
Roger Federer (Switzerland)
Age: 36
Ranking: 3
Career prize money: $135.76 million
Grand slam titles: 19
Best US Open results: champion 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Fans, critics and maybe even the man himself spent four and half years wondering if the Swiss master would ever win an 18th grand slam crown. Now he's favourite to capture No.20 after an extraordinary comeback in 2017.
Simona Halep (Romania)
Age: 25
Ranking: 2
Career prize money: $19.13 million
Grand slam titles: 0
Best US Open results: third round 2015, 2016
The former world junior champion has entrenched her place among the elite with a breakout season and grand slam glory appears the next big step in her rise.
Alexander Zverev (Germany)
Age: 20
Ranking: 6
Career prize money: $6.82 million
Grand slam titles: 0
Best US Open result: second round 2016
The much-trumpeted next generation leader has arrived, with the German prodigy cracking a top-four grand slam seeding for the first time after matching Federer's tour-best five titles this season, including two Masters 1000 events.
Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark)
Age: 27
Ranking: 5
Career prize money: $30.69 million
Grand slam titles: 0
Best US Open results: finalist 2009, 2014
The former world No.1 has consistently enjoyed her best grand slam results in New York, twice reaching the semi-finals on top of her runs to the title match.
Marin Cilic (Croatia)
Age: 28
Ranking: 7
Career prize money: $24.65 million
Grand slam titles: 1 (US Open 2014)
Best US Open result: champion 2014
The big-hitting Croat has been troubled by an adductor injury since losing to Federer in the Wimbledon final but has proven a big-stage player when fully fit and looms as a serious contender once again.
Venus Williams (USA)
Age: 37
Ranking: 9
Career prize money: $47.98 million
Grand slam titles: 7
Best US Open results: champion 2000, 2001
Carrying family hopes in the absence of pregnant sister Serena and in the mix to become the oldest champion in the professional era after reaching the Australian Open and Wimbledon finals.
Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria)
Age: 26
Ranking: 9
Career prize money: $12.62 million
Grand slam titles: 0
Best US Open results: fourth round 2014, 2016
Long touted as a future grand slam champion, the Bulgarian is finally beginning to live up to his potential in 2017, with his run to the Australian Open semi-finals and victory at last week's Cincinnati Masters showcasing his credentials.
Daria Gavrilova (Australia)
Age: 23
Ranking: 26
Career prize money: $2.86 million
Grand slam titles: 0
Best US Open result: first round 2015, 2016
The rising star will be full of confidence chasing her first main-draw win at Flushing Meadows after capturing her maiden WTA Tour title in the Open tune-up in Connecticut.
