US Men"s Tennis: Identity Crisis
It has been more than seven years now, since an American man clinched a Grand Slam title and the way things have been going on - it does not give the impression that we would see any in the near future.
Well, way back in 2003, Andre Agassi triumphed in Australian Open and Roddick further re-establish the American supremacy in Men's tennis by winning the US Open in the same year.
But, the memories of these wins were short-lived as Roddick who holds the fastest serving record is hanging on the edge of oblivion and other American contenders do not look good enough to get past the likes of Nadal, Djokovic and Federer - especially, in Grand Slams.
Leave aside the hard-courts for a moment, but unfortunately the drought continued in the French Open and Wimbledon.
Agassi was the last American to win a French Open in 1999 and Sampras emerged victorious at the Wimbledon in 2000.
Interestingly, the situation is much depleted, as it appears from the surface, as US men's tennis players have been also struggling to make it to the semis and finals of the big events like Grand Slams.
Since 2003, there have been 23 Major finals and US players could only reach the five finals.
In fact, Andy Roddick is only there in the top-ten list of the players.
Now, the most obvious question is what is the most apparent reason behind the dwindling state of US men's tennis? To find the most suitable answer for the future, we need to go back into the past to get some substantial clues.
Well, in the 70's when the American tennis was dictating the terms, there were two great contenders who were carrying the league.
Some of the great names were Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe - these legends were reaching the finals and winning the Grand Slams till mid 80's and then they passed the baton to the next generation of players comprising of the likes of Michael Chang and Jim Courier.
Though, these two could not dominate the men's tennis, as their predecessor did, but very soon the American tennis found their nextcontenders in the form of Sampras and Agassi, who continued the surge.
The current breed of players is not studded with big names except Andy Roddick who is the only player in the top ten.
The other big names are John Isner, Sam Querrey, Mardy Fish, and veteran James Blake, but none of them look like a Grand Slam winner material - in the current scenario.
It seems as if Roddick has been overburdened by the responsibilities and at the age of 28, it seems as if he is on the twilight of his career.
For many hopefuls, Roddick can still win a Grand Slam, but that does appear like an anodyne.
Roddick entered the 2010 Australian Open as the seventh seed with Brisbane International title already in his kitty but lost to Marin Cilic in quarterfinals.
The woes continue for the American in other Majors.
Roddick was easily tamed in the third round of the French Open 2010 by Teymuraz Gabashvili in straight sets.
And, the American was shocked in the fourth round of the Wimbledon 2010, when he lost in the fourth round to the little known Le Yen-hsun of Taiwan in five gruelling sets.
The American once again disappointed his home fans in the US Open 2010 too, as he was beaten by Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia in 4 sets with a 6-3 5-7 3-6 6-7(4) scoreline.
Mardy Fish, who won couple of big titles in 2010, is looking well in control to produce such results in the future, but again, he does not belong to the league of those, who can emerge victorious in a Grand Slam.
Other big reason behind the dwindling state of the American tennis is the emergence of tennis giants comprising of some of the best players of all times including Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Last time, when US men's tennis was experiencing the draught, it was a bright era of Stefan Edberg, Ivan Lendl, Bjrn Borg and Boris Becker.
Hence, these are the hard-times for the Americantennis - by any means.
After the retirement of Sampras and Agassi, American tennis has not got a heady combatant on the upfront, who can challenge the might of Swiss and Spaniards.
Nadal and Federer have won 21 Grand Slam titles since 2003.
Interestingly, the era of Nadal and Federer started after Sampras and Agassi bid adieu to professional tennis.
United States Tennis Association has been taking all the necessary measures to create the future American tennis stars, but the way things have been going on, it seems like an elusive dream.
Well, way back in 2003, Andre Agassi triumphed in Australian Open and Roddick further re-establish the American supremacy in Men's tennis by winning the US Open in the same year.
But, the memories of these wins were short-lived as Roddick who holds the fastest serving record is hanging on the edge of oblivion and other American contenders do not look good enough to get past the likes of Nadal, Djokovic and Federer - especially, in Grand Slams.
Leave aside the hard-courts for a moment, but unfortunately the drought continued in the French Open and Wimbledon.
Agassi was the last American to win a French Open in 1999 and Sampras emerged victorious at the Wimbledon in 2000.
Interestingly, the situation is much depleted, as it appears from the surface, as US men's tennis players have been also struggling to make it to the semis and finals of the big events like Grand Slams.
Since 2003, there have been 23 Major finals and US players could only reach the five finals.
In fact, Andy Roddick is only there in the top-ten list of the players.
Now, the most obvious question is what is the most apparent reason behind the dwindling state of US men's tennis? To find the most suitable answer for the future, we need to go back into the past to get some substantial clues.
Well, in the 70's when the American tennis was dictating the terms, there were two great contenders who were carrying the league.
Some of the great names were Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe - these legends were reaching the finals and winning the Grand Slams till mid 80's and then they passed the baton to the next generation of players comprising of the likes of Michael Chang and Jim Courier.
Though, these two could not dominate the men's tennis, as their predecessor did, but very soon the American tennis found their nextcontenders in the form of Sampras and Agassi, who continued the surge.
The current breed of players is not studded with big names except Andy Roddick who is the only player in the top ten.
The other big names are John Isner, Sam Querrey, Mardy Fish, and veteran James Blake, but none of them look like a Grand Slam winner material - in the current scenario.
It seems as if Roddick has been overburdened by the responsibilities and at the age of 28, it seems as if he is on the twilight of his career.
For many hopefuls, Roddick can still win a Grand Slam, but that does appear like an anodyne.
Roddick entered the 2010 Australian Open as the seventh seed with Brisbane International title already in his kitty but lost to Marin Cilic in quarterfinals.
The woes continue for the American in other Majors.
Roddick was easily tamed in the third round of the French Open 2010 by Teymuraz Gabashvili in straight sets.
And, the American was shocked in the fourth round of the Wimbledon 2010, when he lost in the fourth round to the little known Le Yen-hsun of Taiwan in five gruelling sets.
The American once again disappointed his home fans in the US Open 2010 too, as he was beaten by Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia in 4 sets with a 6-3 5-7 3-6 6-7(4) scoreline.
Mardy Fish, who won couple of big titles in 2010, is looking well in control to produce such results in the future, but again, he does not belong to the league of those, who can emerge victorious in a Grand Slam.
Other big reason behind the dwindling state of the American tennis is the emergence of tennis giants comprising of some of the best players of all times including Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Last time, when US men's tennis was experiencing the draught, it was a bright era of Stefan Edberg, Ivan Lendl, Bjrn Borg and Boris Becker.
Hence, these are the hard-times for the Americantennis - by any means.
After the retirement of Sampras and Agassi, American tennis has not got a heady combatant on the upfront, who can challenge the might of Swiss and Spaniards.
Nadal and Federer have won 21 Grand Slam titles since 2003.
Interestingly, the era of Nadal and Federer started after Sampras and Agassi bid adieu to professional tennis.
United States Tennis Association has been taking all the necessary measures to create the future American tennis stars, but the way things have been going on, it seems like an elusive dream.
Source...