Where have all the great American male tennis players gone?
It’s no great revelation that America’s top male players are not really considered a threat to win any of the Grand Slams. When it comes to tournament play, quality U.S. players are a dying breed, and the numbers do not lie. With no American in the U.S. Open men’s semi-finals this weekend, it will be the 16th straight Grand Slam event without a U.S. men’s winner.
Andy Roddick has become the poster boy of U.S. tennis in the post-Sampras and Agassi era. Is he bitter? Hardly, Roddick has found some solace in trying to lead the Americans with his meat and potatoes power game against the sophisticated style that has dominated tennis for years. And he holds the claim of being the last U.S. winner of a Grand Slam event; he won the 2003 U.S. Open final.
James Blake has been somewhat of a disappointment on the men’s tour. He is often noted for his athleticism, which many believe should enable him to win a Grand Slam. Instead, he plants himself on the end line and tries to become a straight-ahead basher, which just negates his speed.
It’s not only that the U.S. contenders have retired or currently slumping, but the pipeline of potential tennis stars is as thin as ever. A quick glance at the top ten players at the 16-17 years old level and you will not see an American name on the list.
There was a time when pro tennis players came from one of three global regions, Australia, Western Europe, or the United States. Today, the top two men’s singles players are a Spaniard (Rafael Nadal) and a Swiss (Roger Federer).
Tennis has grown everywhere else on the globe except in the United States. Many in tennis feel youngsters have shied away from the sport due to the popularity of action sports (skateboarding or other X Game-style events) in American culture. Tennis fans anticipated the drop-off of American players in the sport because of the lack of depth produced by the U.S. tennis academies. If the U.S. hopes to produce more male champions, that’s where it’s going to happen.
Posted in: General Sports, Television, Tennis
Tags: Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Grand Slam, Pete Sampras, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, US Open
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It’s been noted that more Americans are picking up a racket at a younger age and giving tennis a shot. What this data neglects to say is how long they give it a go. Not long is probably the answer. The lack of a dominant male American tennis player is a likely turn-off for a youngster in high school. It’s been almost a decade without an American on top, which, unfortunately, causes many to give up the sport.
“Dad, but I’m going to have to play the Serbians.”
Good article, and correct in my estimation.
When I was growing up (born in ’63) the big sports were basketball, baseball and football. Of course tennis was not as big as those sports, but it was somewhat popular. Today young Americans are attracted to the big 3 sports, and so many others, including soccer (which was truly not that popular when I was young).
I also want to say something else that I find very disappointing in the American male tennis players that I think is a turn-off to many people. Many of the top American male players are not the best sportsmen and often come across as being whiny or hot heads. Roddick, Fish, Isner all do little to promote their sport as far as their attitudes/character on court. It is true that they do good things off court for charity, but what American really has the charisma and impeccable sense of sportsmanship as a Federer or Nadal? I think James Blake comes the closest, but I have such a hard time rooting for the top American men because of their uninspiring personalities.
I doubt there is much that can be done about this in the future, I think it is all result of having so many sports in the country, and a real change in how the younger generations view the world/their sense of entitlement. I think we will be surprised by another great American player at some point, just based on the luck of some great DNA, but I sadly feel the days of several American male tennis players ruling the planet at the same time are over.