Can anyone tell me what has gone wrong with U.S. tennis players?

Question

After the great Andre Agassi, no one has come near to the great sportsman..Andy Roddick? Well, he has still a long way to go....!

Answer 1

It is definitely a reflection of the lack of interest in the sport in the US, primarily in the mid- to late- 90's.

I played a lot in the late 80's, and public courts were PACKED. Every night you had to have a court reserved or wait your turn. Some nights you didn't get on a court.

I think once golf became the "cool sport" in the 90's when Tiger Woods starting getting popular, interest in tennis dried up. You could walk or drive by a public tennis court on a sunny 80 degree day and it would be EMPTY.

Golf and NASCAR TV ratings soared. Tennis TV ratings tanked. Let's face it, tennis was BORING to watch, and has been boring since serve and volley tennis died. In the men's game, you're either watching groundpounders or servers and it's like watching paint dry. Even today, the men's game remains mostly unwatchable, except for Federer/Nadal/Blake when they play each other the matches are good to watch.

Look at women's tennis, the same thing: no US player in the top 10. Jill Craybas and Jamea Jackson representing US in Fed Cup.

I think interest in tennis in the US is beginning to go up. But it will be 5-10 years before you see it have an effect at the top level of the game.

Answer 2

I don't feel like typing alot, so I'll just toss this in.

American players are very restricted in their ability to adapt. NO Americans right now can play clay well enough to even try in my opinion.

Blake is good, but I believe he has peaked. My hope lies in Roddick, not for his power but for what he could be. Will he ever accomplish his goals and become more? No clue. I do know that with his power and forward topspin clay absolutely kills him. It slows down the ball too much and takes away his major advantage whereas with Nadal's upward topspin the ball kicks insanely high, but, of course, he grew up on clay.

I think teaching Americans how to play on other surfaces would help tremendously. I'm an American & a pretty hardcore tennis player (not saying I'm great, just really into it) and I've never played on anything but hard court. I don't even know where anything besides hard court is around here?

Problem? I think so.

Answer 3

I agree with everyone here. Roddick and Blake are good - both could be Great! Bryan Brothers dominate now in doubles. But for other up-and-coming players, it does seem few and far between. With the vast population and resources of America you would think we would be producing more high caliber players. I would give credit where credit is due - at the moment, there are just a lot of really good players from other countries. With Federer and Nadal and Nalbanian, I doubt a US player will win a Grand Slam next year.

Answer 4

That’s very true of what you’re saying – The U.S players are not performing very well as such! Andy Roddick is the number one of the U.S but his performance does not meet other legendaries such as Micheal Chang, Pete Sampras or André Agassi. I believe that tennis is not a matter of being dependable on any ethnic activities or nations/countries. Instead, in the so ferocious competition players do succeed based on numerous factors. Our professional tennis players are facing tremendous “threats” as each match they do proves to be very tense and rude. Hence, a professional tennis player needs to be prepared in every aspects of his game if he wants to “survive” in the so wavy tennis tournaments worldwide.

Furthermore, it is not a matter that U.S players poorly perform but I think we should view it further from that. What I think is that many players, regardless of their locations, are struggling to maintain their tennis careers. Technology has enhanced various tennis strokes and players are no longer dominating such as Bjorn Borg or Lendel. May be there is an exception of “Master Federer”. Even for him, just notice about all his matches
he played before, he needs to be outstanding in every shot he made. Hence, it is not very difficult only for those U.S players but also for every players in the world.

One remark is perhaps that tennis is considered to be a sport activity created for only rich people. This may distort the probability that U.S players are condemned to just contemplate the number one tennis players kicking aces or winning forehands and backhands on “some weak” players. Hence, I seriously believe that the future tennis should be evolved around working together to promote this noble sports activity rather than to fool people and make tennis for only “some” elites.

Answer 5

She is only young and playing in her (I think) 2nd GS final against someone who has been there who knows how many times! She just was a bit over awed by the whole thig I think. I reckon her time will come though. She played some great tennis and just needs another year to mature a bit and look out! She is so strong! I can't wait to see her win a few Slams before her time is up.

Answer 6

After the great era of Sampras and Aggassi, US Tennis has almost disapperaed from the topline excepting the Roddick's US Opene title a couple of years ago. Talent is not emerging from States due to lack intreset in Sports by US People. They are enjoying their developed status by living cozy life they don't want to spend times in sharp sunrays. Soon US will lose its recognition of Tennis powerhouse.

Answer 7

Tennis is becoming bigger in other countries and stayin the same here. For instance small countries like Belgium and Serbia are small but each have 2 players in the top 20, while the US had none (Clijsters, Henin-Hardenne, Jankovic, Ivanovic) On the men side we think that we can just overpower everyone (Roddick), but Roger Federer uses many different techniques.

Answer 8

Bad luck for America :(. But I guess what influence the players of America is the image they want to portray. American tennis wants players to express more energy in the game. This way the energy can attract more people. Not to say others like Federer, and Nadal do not display energy but the kind of attitude America wants to display is that of Jimmy Connors, and John McEnroe did back in their time.

Answer 9

The men met the European pros and the women met the Russians ....

Actuaaly , its just a lack of interest , seems 2 me that young boys n gals in USA wanna become the next Lindsay Lohans and Jesse McCartneys more than they wanna become the next Chris Evert or the next Pete Sampras..
The USTA is worried about the same thing

I feel sorry , but anyways , Im Indian and its not as if Grand Slam champions grow like mushrooms in our country either !Same here , buddy!

But the US is dominating the doubles circuit , thru' the Bryans

Answer 10

Well the problem is in other countrys they play one sport for their entire life starting at 4-5, while in the US we play multiple sports so they naturally have an advantage on us. Also youre forgetting about James Blake who has started to do well. Also Gineppri made a good run last year