NEW YORK — The question comes up pretty much every week. Lately, Sam Querrey finds himself answering it more often than most.

Who will be the next great American tennis star?

Querrey enters the U.S. Open as one of the top candidates, complete with his own fan club ("The Samurai"), a signature victory (over Andy Roddick) and a significant title (winner of the U.S. Open Series).

He is 21, has a serve that tops out around 125 mph and is gaining confidence seemingly by the second.

He knows he is one nice run — maybe starting this week at Flushing Meadows — from cracking the top 20 and quite possibly becoming the next big thing on an American tennis scene that is always searching for just that.

"Everyone is doing what they can," said Querrey, who is seeded 22nd.

Play was scheduled to begin Monday, with Roger Federer embarking on the quest for his sixth consecutive title in a match against NCAA champion Devin Britton. The Williams sisters were both on the schedule, as were Roddick and James Blake, two Americans who used to hear plenty of what Querrey hears now.

Roddick, who turned 27 on Sunday, has one Grand Slam title in 2003.