By GREG BISHOP • New York Times News Service
TORONTO • For some 37 years, more than 1,900 weeks, ever since the ATP World Tour introduced computer rankings, an American has been in the top 10. Sometimes, there were two, or three, or more. But always, there was one.
Until now.
Andy Roddick dropped to No. 11 Monday, then dropped out of the Rogers Cup, citing illness. John Isner, known primarily as the winner of the longest match in professional tennis history, had already withdrawn. Only Sam Querrey, ranked 21st, remained.
These are historic times in U.S. men's tennis, and not in a good way. A full 27 Grand Slam tournaments have passed without an American triumph, since Roddick captured the U.S. Open in 2003, the second-longest such drought.
"Look, we've always been there," said Brad Gilbert, a coach, ESPN commentator and retired player. "But it's like the Yankees. You expect them to win the World Series every season. That doesn't mean it's going to happen."
The torch was passed from Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe to Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Jim Courier to Roddick. It was a remarkable run of elite players, one that perhaps reached its apex in 2002, when Sampras and Agassi met in the Open final in New York.
Sampras repeatedly warned American tennis fans that the run would not last forever, that tennis had grown global, that expectations were too high.
"Obviously, we were spoiled," American player Michael Russell said Tuesday after losing to Querrey in Toronto.
Some, like Justin Gimelstob and Darren Cahill, two retired players who became commentators, argue that American men's tennis is healthier and stronger than it was two or three years ago. Gimelstob notes that American players have won nine singles titles this season, second only to Spanish players, who have won 16.
Isner, ranked No. 19, and Querrey, ranked No. 21, have become forces on the men's tour, contenders at most tournaments. The Bryan brothers, Bob and Mike, recently captured their record 62nd career doubles title. Mardy Fish, ranked No. 34, continues to climb the rankings. Four Americans — Roddick, Isner, Querrey and Fish — could be in the top 20 by the end of the U.S. Open. But that remains an optimistic view.
"I agree and disagree," said Patrick McEnroe, the Davis Cup captain in charge of the U.S. Tennis Association's player development. "This is a big deal. It's sort of a watershed moment. Am I hitting the panic button? No. But this is a wake-up call, and my bell had already rung on that."
How did the United States end up here?
Reason No. 1: the globalization of tennis. When Gilbert played, he said, it seemed as if there were 40 Americans in the top 100. Now, nine countries are represented in the top 10. Argentina (Juan Martin del Potro), Croatia (Marin Cilic and Ivan Ljubicic) and Cyprus (Marcos Baghdatis) have players in the top 20.
But that trend started decades ago, and it does not account for the seven players from Spain, including top-ranked Rafael Nadal, currently in the top 25.
"I prefer to see this sport as incredibly healthy internationally," said Gimelstob, a member of the ATP player board. "We still are healthy, just not when you compare to generations past. And I view that as an unrealistic bar."
Reason No. 2: player development. McEnroe took charge of the U.S. Tennis Association's program in April 2008, and his focus — better coaching, better facilities and a better process of identifying talent — has not wavered.
The plan once centered on creating champions, he said, a misnomer because champions are developed more than created. The idea now is to build a better base, to fill layers — top 25, top 100, top 200 — with players on the rise, to have them work together, push one another, share coaches, tips and insight, then see who emerges.
The association also recently added clay courts, which aid in development, but even McEnroe does not describe a three- or five-year process. More like 10.
Balancing current expectations and long-term development remains difficult. Paul Annacone, who holds a post similar to McEnroe's with the British Lawn Tennis Association, faced similar obstacles. Annacone, who once coached Sampras and recently started working with Roger Federer, told his interviewers that if they were looking for immediate results, they should not hire him, or anyone, for that matter.
"Everyone wants to see immediate success at the Grand Slams, but that's not the correct barometer," he said. "You're laying the foundation. It takes time. That's like having an art class and expecting a Picasso the first week. It doesn't work like that."
For years, Roddick has carried the burden of America's great tennis hope, largely, and especially lately, by himself. This year, he played as well as anyone else through March, but he has struggled since. With few computer points left to defend for the rest of the season, he will most likely end up back in the top 10.
Roddick's dip also forced those charged with the health of American tennis to examine what will happen after he retires. Gimelstob believes Roddick will remain in the top 10 for "many years to come." Gilbert, who coached Agassi, noted how much success Agassi enjoyed starting at age 29. (Roddick turns 28 later this month.) Still, the search for the next great American tennis star has become amplified.
"I had these same conversations when John and Jimmy retired," Annacone said. "There was a bit of a lull. There weren't really any big, powerful superstars. Then you had Pete and Andre and Jim and Michael Chang. There's no reason to panic."
Querrey has won four tournaments this season, second most after Nadal. Isner's serve may be the most dominating shot in tennis. Both hold top-10 potential, but even if they get there, neither has shown Roddick's crossover appeal or marketability yet.
That registers as a larger concern than the lack of an American man in the top 10.
"Andy is still playing at a top-10 level," Gimelstob said. "That said, I do not believe that American tennis will be able to maintain, or match, what it has done. The public better accept that it's not going to be like years past."
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There were bets in all the matches today so have to post the screenshot like this otherwise it will be clear what the selections were and what level of staking was applied to each match.
Still a bit more profit which is good and takes the
balance up to £235.81. This is better now after sitting still for nearly a week without any real progress.
