Roddick and other U.S. hopes
The way the Australians feel about Hewitt is much the same way a lot of Americans feel about Andy Roddick, semifinal loser to Hewitt in 2005 Down Under, and first-round loser to Gilles Muller at the U.S. Open five months back.

But packing the heat of a high-caliber serve and forehand, and armed with confident memories of his U.S. Open title of 2003, Roddick must have a shot in Melbourne. After all he's only 23, and he does get a lift to the second seed with Nadal sidelined.

Revived Americans No. 23 James Blake, No. 16 Robby Ginepri and No. 30 Taylor Dent, heartened by late- season rescuing of their careers, could cause trouble. But it's a stretch to imagine them in the winner's circle.

Other players to watch
Dangerous will be the clever Argentine, David Nalbandian (the Federer-wrecker in the November Masters final) and Chilean Fernando Gonzalez, who hits a ton. Another champ lurks in the wings in Thomas Johansson, but 2002 (when he won here) was once in a Swedish lifetime.

If you like another long shot, it's Tommy Haas, who might have won in 2002 if he had paid closer attention to his semifinal with Safin. At least keep an eye on two French kids: Richard Gasquet, and Gael Monfils, both 19.

Also stick in as potential troublemakers Davis Cup winning hero, 6-foot-5 Croatian Mario Ancic,  whose volleying wingspan is intimidating, and the world's greatest player inch-for-inch player: 5-foot-4 speed demon Olli Rochus from Belgium.

But unless Federer is leveled in an ambush, the chase for the mysterious and elusive Grand Slam will be on. Since Don Budge Slammed in 1938, only four have crashed the select society: Maureen Connolly, 1953; Laver, 1962, '69; Margaret Court, 1970; and Steffi Graf, 1988.

Is it time for lightning to strike again, a bolt aka Roger Federer?

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