NEW YORK -- At first glance Patrick Rafter appears in his prime, playing with uncommon flair and grace that allows him to make tennis look easy, as he did at times Monday at the U.S. Open.

A small gray patch in his short black hair is the only evidence of the toll nine years on the men's tour has taken. The 28-year-old Rafter is weary of the grind and looking forward to a six-month break that might turn into retirement.

The laid-back Australian was asked what he loves these days about tennis.

"That it's nearly finished," he responded.

But Rafter hopes to keep playing during the next two weeks. On the first day of perhaps his final Grand Slam tournament, the two-time Open champion eliminated American Bob Bryan 7-6 (3), 6-3, 7-5.

"He's playing great," Bryan said. "He can go for a good five more years."

That's not likely. Rafter announced in January that he would take a break -- perhaps permanently -- at the end of 2001. His plan hasn't changed, even though he was the runner-up to Goran Ivanisevic at Wimbledon and reached the finals in three tournaments this month, winning at Indianapolis.

"I don't want to be around tennis for a while and see how much I miss it, if I do or not," Rafter said.

Andre Agassi quickly defeated Bryan's twin brother Mike Bryan with a 6-4, 6-1, 6-0 victory. Defending men's champion Marat Safin beat qualifier Sebastien De Chaunac 6-4, 6-2, 6-2, while Tim Henman advanced with a victory against Jan Vacek 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 3-6, 6-3.

Before late-afternoon rain interrupted play, sunny, steamy conditions with temperatures in the mid-80s left two men unable to finish their match. Nicolas Kiefer retired because of heat exhaustion, and Kenneth Carlsen quit with cramps.

The weather was also a worry for Rafter, who risks dehydration in long matches because he sweats profusely. He was happy to finish off Bryan in just over two hours.

"To get out of it in straight sets was a relief," Rafter said. "It was very hot and humid. I was starting to get tired out there."

The victory was Rafter's first at the U.S. Open since he won the 1998 final. He retired during a first-round match in 1999 because of a shoulder injury, then lost in the opening round last year to Galo Blanco.

Against Bryan, Rafter served and volleyed well and faced only two break points. But "the Wizard of Aus," as one fan's sign described him, lost the point of the day.

A long rally ended with both players at the net. Bryan dived for three consecutive shots, the last of which floated over the head of Rafter, who retreated and dumped a shot into the net.

"Guys are telling me in the locker room that's maybe one of the top 10 points in U.S. Open history," Bryan said.

Rafter, cracking a smile, said: "I've got him on his knees, literally, and I played it back to him. That's not really smart when you think about it."

Rafter hopes to play smarter as he moves through the toughest quarter of the draw. He could face four-time champion Pete Sampras, two-time champ Agassi and 2000 champ Marat Safin in consecutive matches en route to the final.

Still, Rafter might be the man to beat on the medium-fast Open hardcourt surface, which perfectly suits his aggressive game. He's at his best when he plays a lot, and he has played 18 matches in the past month.

His recent results are reminiscent of 1997 and 1998, when he won consecutive Open titles.

"Things look good," he said. "In '97 and '98, I came in with a lot of tennis. Again here I've come in with a lot of tennis. It's sort of like an omen. I'm just trying to ride the wave as long as I can."

Win or lose, Rafter's ride will soon end -- for a few months at least, and perhaps for good. Agassi, 31, and Sampras, 30, keep plugging along, but Rafter sounds eager to step aside for the next generation, which includes Australian Lleyton Hewitt and 18-year-old American Andy Roddick.

"The young fellows are taking over, and it's great," Rafter said. "It happens in every sport. They're the new crop. They're the ones who are going to carry tennis on to the next 10 years."