Four-time champ Federer, Nadal lead men's U.S. Open field

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Four-time defending champion Roger Federer and Wimbledon winner Rafael Nadal lead the men's field for the U.S. Open announced Wednesday.

Former U.S. Open champions Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick and Marat Safin will also be in the field for the Aug. 25-Sept. 7 tournament in New York.

Nadal, fresh off a thrilling defeat of Federer at the All England Club and a more comprehensive win at Roland Garros, has a chance to become the fifth man to win the final three majors of the season.

Rod Laver did it in his Grand Slam years of 1962 and 1969, Don Budge won a slam in 1938 and Tony Trabert won just the three in 1955.

Federer will be trying to become the first man to win this Grand Slam tournament five straight times in the Open era -- and first with that many in a row since Bill Tilden won six U.S. championships from 1920-25.

Other past Grand Slam champions in the tournament are Juan Carlos Ferrero, Thomas Johansson and Carlos Moya.

In addition to the 104 players who received direct entry into the field based on Monday's rankings, eight will get wild cards and 16 will earn berths in qualifying.

Seedings will be based on the Aug. 18 rankings.