It’s a terrific story, this American men’s tennis resurgence. But is it really a resurgence?
After years of silence since Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi went into retirement, the Americans enter today’s play at the Flushing Meadows with a chance to place three players into the U.S. Open quarterfinals for the first time since 2005.
Before Jo-Winfried Tsonga’s 6-4, 6-7, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 fourth-round win over Mardy Fish last night, the Americans had four players in the Round of 16 for the first time since 2003.
Fish, the highest-seeded American at No. 8, had been joined by Andy Roddick, whose 21st seed is his lowest ever in a Grand Slam, 28th seed John Isner and unseeded Donald Young.
Roddick, Isner and Young, all of whom are scheduled to play today, are hoping to do what Fish failed to do last night — reach the quarterfinals.
Before Fish’s loss, they were vying to become the first American quartet to reach the quarters since Roddick, Agassi, Todd Martin and Taylor Dent did it in 1995.
Roddick, the only one of those four who is still playing, won that ’03 U.S. Open, his only career Grand Slam victory.
Outside that win eight years ago, though, there’s not a lot of substance on the respective resumes of the American men currently playing. That’s why the flurry at this U.S. Open has aroused some hope for the Americans.
This many American men still alive as the second week of the Open gains the steam of a 130-mile-per-hour first serve is, indeed, a good story. But does it really represent a resurgence? That depends on whom you listen to.
Fish, after his defeat, was upbeat about the chances of his fellow countrymen.
“Andy is the usual suspect. He’s always there,” Fish said. “Isner is playing as well as anyone. I think he can win the tournament the way he’s serving and playing. Donald’s got a tough match coming up [vs. Andy Murray, the No. 4 seed], for sure, but it’s nice to see him doing well again.
“It’s nice that we’re all in there. We’ve got a lot of young, good players coming up,” Fish said, referring to youngsters such as Jack Sock, Ryan Harrison and Sam Querrey. “When James [Blake] and myself and Andy stop playing, we feel like it will be in pretty good hands.”
What Fish glossed over is the fact that, between himself, Blake and Roddick, they own only one Grand Slam title and none is likely to break through for another.
That’s why the American run at this U.S. Open looks more like a mirage than a trend.
As the three Americans hang around — a welcome sight for those pining for American men’s tennis to reassert itself — the reality is the players who will comprise Sunday’s final come from a small pool that includes the top four seeds — Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Murray.
With due credit to the Americans who have created the stir in this tournament, they are the second tier to the elite.
And that doesn’t look like it’s going to change anytime soon.
In golf, with Tiger Woods’ career spiraling the last two years and Phil Mickelson struggling, the sport’s major championships also have been recently dominated by non-American players.
This has spurred a lot of debate about what’s wrong with American golf. Then St. John’s alum Keegan Bradley came along and won the PGA Championship last month, ending a six major drought for the Americans, and many were quick to anoint him as the next big thing.
Since his finest career moment, though, Bradley has missed the cut at the first two Fed-Ex Cup playoff tournaments and hardly looks like he is about to immediately change the face of American golf.
The same goes for Fish, Roddick, Isner, Young and the other up-and-coming young Americans. To call this a resurgence is an exaggeration. The American men still have a long way to go before they’re truly a factor to contend for another Grand Slam title.