The careers of Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski could not be moving in more contrasting directions as the US Open begins today. For Henman, who has reached one ATP final and beaten Pete Sampras for the first time in the space of the past month, the last Grand Slam event of the year is the perfect opportunity to confirm his place among the top players. For Rusedski, however, the noisiest arena in world tennis provides an abrasive setting for his bid to emerge from the most debilitating crisis of his tennis career.

Both will be eager to banish the memories of 12 months ago when Henman was beaten in straight sets in the first round by Argentine Guillermo Canas, suffering the indignity of being the first men's seed to be swept out of the tournament.

Rusedski, still suffering from a foot injury and who has not played a competitive match since Britain's Davis Cup defeat by Ecuador over a month ago, lost in the fourth round to American Todd Martin, despite serving for the match.

This time Henman faces a tricky first round opponent in Spain's Fernando Vicente, who beat him in this year's French Open.

The hard courts of New York, however, are much more to Henman's liking and there is every chance that Britain's number one could negotiate his way to a potential quarter-final with Sampras.

The pair have practised together as usual over the past week and Sampras has been generous in praise of his friend.

"We've always known he has the game," said Sampras. "I've practised with him many times when he has held his own easily and beaten me. It's just a case of taking that practice form into matches."

Henman, seeded 11th, admits he has warmed to the street-fighting atmosphere of Flushing Meadows.

"Wimbledon might be the home of tennis and where I first fell in love with the game, but Flushing Meadows has its own unique character. It's so intense. It's like stepping into the lion's den."

The analogy could not be more appropriate for Rusedski, whose failure in the Davis Cup came after his humiliating first-round Wimbledon defeat .

However, perhaps the most haunting defeat came against Martin at the US Open last year. "It happens to everyone at some time," said Rudsedski, whose first-round opponent is Sweden's Magnus Gustafsson. "It's very infrequent you see that happen to Sampras or Agassi, but I am sure it has. It was certainly one of my worst defeats."

Interest in the women's draw inevitably surrounds the Williams sisters, who could meet in the final if defending champion Serena recovers sufficiently from a bruised left foot which forced her to retire from the Canadian Open final.

Ireland's Federation Cup player, Claire Curran (22), from Belfast, has realised a life ambition to play in a Grand Slam event. The draw at Flushing Meadow has pitted Curran and her US collegiate partner, Australian Amy Jensen, against Martina Hingis and Mary Pierce in the doubles.

Curran and Jensen, a native of Brisbane, became automatic entries into the main draw following their success in the US Inter Collegiate championship in July.

"The draw is something else," said Curran. "This is something we are truly relishing. All we can hope for now is that we manage to attain our full potential and, perhaps, enjoy it."