But with three-time champion Andy Roddick looking to get his game on track and a smattering of up and coming American players – think Ryan Harrison, Jack Sock, Donald Young, Steve Johnson, and Ryan Sweeting – looking to make a splash, this year’s edition of the second-longest running professional tennis tournament in the U.S. could end up being a proving ground for the overlooked and the once-mighty.

Can Roddick prove himself title-worthy again? Is hard-hitting South African Kevin Anderson, just seven spots shy of a career-high ranking, ready to elevate his game? Or will it be Ryan Harrison, a player who defeated Raonic at Indian Wells last year when the Canadian was red-hot, who steps up like Raonic did in San Jose last year?

Harrison will look to recapture the form that took him to two consecutive semifinals on American hard courts last summer, while promising wildcards Jack Sock and Steve Johnson – both explosive young talents, albeit raw – will look to gain valuable experience against the big boys.

With or without Raonic – or Monfils – the SAP open will boast a doubles exhibition featuring John McEnroe tomorrow, and that should get fans in a festive mood regardless of the status of the draw. 

Is Roddick ever going to be the player he used to be? At 29, Roddick is suffering injuries with increasing regularity, and the title count (now 30) has barely grown since spring of 2010.

Will the SAP give us another first-time titlist? How about Grigor Dimitrov? The 20-year-old has got game, that’s for sure.

Will Raonic attempt to defend his title? At this point, reports are coming in that he’s already pulled out of Monday’s exhibition, not a good sign for the rest of the week. 

Will Monfils be ready to go? Monfils did test the knee Sunday in a dead rubber against the Canadians, so if all goes well, he’ll take the court in San Jose. What to expect from him is another question entirely. 

Which young American is ready to make some noise? 19-year-old Harrison, unseeded and just barely inside the top 100, could really use the points and the confidence that would come from them. Nothing is expected of Sock and Johnson, who are both ranked in the 300’s, but each could surprise. Ryan Sweeting, Donald Young and Sam Querrey are also in the mix.

The Draw

Hard to say what’s going to happen to the top half, as Raonic and Monfils are currently the projected semifinalists. Ryan Harrison, Kevin Anderson, Grigor Dimitrov, and Ryan Sweeting could all go deep if Raonic and Monfils end up pulling out.