New York, Aug 26: U.S Open is wide open with Pete Sampras announcing his retirement and the Williams sisters injured. Some big names in tennis are missing from this year's U.S Open at Flushing Meadows in New York. U.S. legendary star Pete Sampras announced his retirement from professional tennis on day one of the tournament. "You know I knew once Wimbledon came and went that it was time for me to stop and I know that it is time, and I am content and I am at peace with it and it's time to call it a career and it couldn't happen at a better place than here in New York, where everything happened for me at nineteen and it ended for me last year here" Sampras told a packed news conference. Sampras first won a Grand Slam title after he was the mens' U.S Open champion in 1990 in 1990. At just 19 years old and became the youngest player to win the U.S Open. For the next decade of so, Sampras went on to win 13 other Grand Slam titles, including four other U.S Open wins, seven Wimbledons and two Australians. His arch rival throughout those years was of course Andre Agassi, Sampras's last game at the U.S Open in 2002, saw Sampras defeat Agassi in a four set match.


Agassi is now one of those players Americans are pinning their hopes on to snatch keep the U.S Open title in American hands. At 33 Agassi is stronger than ever and seeded one at the tournament he has won twice before.


Lurking at the bottom of the draw and seeded number two is the main European threat, stylish Swiss Roger Federer. The man billed as the new Pete Sampras will still be flushed by his success at Wimbledon last month -- his first grand slam crown -- and eager to back it up in the United States.


Spanish star Juan Carlos Ferrero is seeded number 3, he told reporters that he thinks it is time Sampras retires, "I think he won the last tournament here and he played his last match in Centre Court and you know I think if he think it is time to retire, he has to do it. I think he won enough tournaments and he was one of the great players and winning a lot of Grand Slams you know and he did a good job so I think it is enough."


America's other great hope, fourth seed Andy Roddick, faces an unenviable task, however. Despite winning back-to-back Masters crowns entering the Open, he will not relish his first-round clash against Britain's Tim Henman -- a player most seeds had been hoping to avoid. A period of injury has seen Henman's ranking slide to the mid-30s leaving him without a seeded spot in the draw, but just last month he showed his mettle by storming to the title in Washington, defeating Roddick in the semi-finals.


Rising American young star, 21 year old Mardy Fish, doubts there will be another Sampras for a long time, "I think as far as the guys coming up, you know there is a lot of talent but I don't think that you know, who is to say...but I don't think that we have somebody like that, that's for sure."


While most fans wandering around Flushing Meadows were sad to see Sampras go, the younger generation of fans are looking forward to betting on who will take this year's title.


Ten year olds Matthew Teffler and his friend Justin Shapiro argued back and forth "Lleyton Hewitt, definitely" said one, "No, Juan Carlos Ferero" argued the other.


This year's womens U.S Open title is wide open, with the Williams sisters pulling out of the tournament. Both Serena and Venus have been sidelined by injury.


European heavyweights top and tail the women's draw as the Belgians Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne lead the entries. Clijsters is seeded one, but she has never won a grand slam crown. Henin-Hardenne became the first Belgian slam winner earlier this year in Paris when she beat Clijsters in the French Open final.


Number five seed, and France's hopeful, Amelie Mauresmo says with the Williams sister out of the game, she is aiming high, "Of course it makes a difference because two of the best players in the world are not here, so it might you know make it easier, even though a lot of good players are there, although to be honest I don't think too much about it, I just concentrate on what I have to do for each match and we will just see."


The fact that none of last year's winners are playing this year is exciting for some, but a let-down for others, who say they'll miss seeing their stars.


Justin Cox is looking forward to seeing who will take the title now neither of the Williams powerhouses are playing, "They are so good, but they win everything almost, I mean seeing them is exciting but one thing about them being here is there will be different people in the finals."


But for Norm Brahen, Serena's and Venus's absence has taken some of the sparkle out of the 2003 Open, "I think it is a real shame, I think it really weakens the whole tournament."


The mens final will take place on Saturday September 6, with the womens being played on Sunday September 7.


Bureau Report