Rob McLean - US tennis in decline
Americans are forever banging on that 'second in sport is nowhere', so you can imagine their reaction to the latest ATP rankings which showed that there wasn't one home player in the top 10 for the first time since rankings were released in 1973.
The build up to the US Open later this month begins in earnest this week, with the big guns returning to the Toronto Masters and then Cincinnati. Meanwhile, the media on the other side of the pond are immersed in a bout of soul searching and wondering where their next Grand Slam champion is coming from.
After some encouraging performances recently, notably from Sam Querrey and Mardy Fish, optimism has given way to pessimism in the wake of a disastrous American showing at the Washington event, where, for the first time since 1969, a home player failed to reach the last eight.
A meeting with President Obama on the White House Lawns prior to the tournament seems to have had an adverse effect, with the American contingent, Andy Roddick included, crashing out.
For us Brits, having more than one male player in the top 100 or two or three in the main draw of a tournament would be a rare luxury and an excuse for street celebrations.
Obviously the US has been spoilt for choice over the years and the chances of adding another Grand Slam look slim. The last one was Roddick's US Open seven years ago. The halycon days of Connors, McEnroe, Sampras, Courier, Chang and Agassi are now a distant memory and the only positive recent talking point in US tennis - apart from the incredible longevity of the Williams sisters - is still the longest match involving John Isner at Wimbledon.
He is already tired of being asked about it at every press conference, but the best way to stop that would be to win the US Open.
Experience shines through
Performance of the month so far has to be David Nalbandian's triumph in Washington. The Argentine, who for a time was the bête noir of Roger Federer, has had a terrible time with injury.
Nalbandian is 28 and was runner-up at Wimbledon in 2002. His success follows that of another elder statesman, Ivan Ljubicic, who at the age of 31 won in Indian Wells in March.
Stars turn out in Canada
Federer (no title since January), Andy Murray (no title since November last year) and Nadal are all playing in Canada. Nadal is at the top of his game (won last five tournaments) but hard courts are the one place where he can be vulnerable.
Federer, like Murray, is desperate to end his title drought. While having nothing like the problems of golf's world No 1 Tiger Woods, the Swiss, now 29, has been talking a good game and needs to reassert himself quickly to stop the talk that he is in terminal decline.
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Date published :
12 Aug 2010 - 09:43:13
