The Wimbledon finalist, who crushed Czech Jiri Novak 6-2, 6-1 in just 45 minutes on Sunday for his first ATP triumph since early 2001, is among a list of players hoping to capitalise on the withdrawal of the injured US Open champion Andy Roddick.

Thai star Paradorn Srichapan is also among the favourites along with top seed Rainer Schuettler of Germany, Sebastien Grosjean of France and Novak.

Hopes are high that third seed Paradorn, who defended the hardcourt ATP event in New York in August for his fourth career title, will repeat his excellent performance of last year.

Paradorn's victory over then world number one Lleyton Hewitt confirmed his arrival as a world tennis power.

However, Philippoussis and Paradorn will have to see off strong challenges if they are to lift the Tokyo trophy, won last year by Kenneth Carlsen of Denmark.

Top seed Rainer, runner-up at the Australian Open, will be looking to hit top form after Germany's 2-3 Davis Cup loss to Belarus saw them relegated to the Euro/African zone Group One.

For second seed Grosjean, a semi-finalist at Wimbledon, Tokyo is his first event since being dumped out of the US Open in the first round.

"It's been 20 days since the US Open. My right elbow has been a bit painful, but nothing is broken. I just needed a rest," said Grosjean.

"I practised in Paris last week -- I only started serving last week after a medical check, but I feel okay now."

Schuettler is in the same half of the draw with Philippoussis, 1999 Japan Open champion and sixth seed Nicolas kiefer of Germany, fourth seed Novak and up-and-coming 10th seed Mario Ancic of Croatia.

Last year's runner-up Magnus Norman of Sweden, the 11th seed, is also in Schuettler's quarter.

Meanwhile Grosjean is in the bottom half with Paradorn, seventh seed Lee Kyung-Taik of South Korea, eighth seed Jan-Michael Gambill of the United States and defending champion Carlesen, the ninth seed.