Americans in Decline
Written by: Darren Whitfield, Guest Blogger
Gone are the days of Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Monica Seles, and Jennifer Capriati. These are the names of just a few champions who were part of the American tennis dynasty. In the late 1980’s and 1990’s American tennis was at its height. In everyone Championships there was an American on the list of players. Today unfortunately we cannot stay the same. While Venus and Serena Williams are still in the thick things there are not dominating women’s tennis. Andy Roddick who has been the hope of American men’s tennis since the exit of Agassi has been less than fruitful. This week proves there is a decline in American tennis.
Three tennis players made an exit from the opening Olympus US Open Tennis Series. Serena Williams withdrew from Stanford with a knee injury on Saturday. Serena withdrew in the seminfinals in the second set after a hard fought battle to Wozniak.Williams lasted only 46 minutes before pulling out of the match trailing 2-6, 1-3. Venus Williams and Davenport have already pulled out of next week’s East West Bank Classic in Carson, Calif., due to right knee injuries.
On the men’s side, Sam Querrey was taken down by Frenchman Gilles Simon who posted a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 win into the Sunday final of the Indianapolis Tennis Championships. At a two hours match Querrey collapsed in a wave of fatigue. James Blake, who has been on shaky ground the entire tournament also fell in Indianapolis. Blake cracked under pressure in the wake of French Open and Wimbledon second-round disappointments, losing his serve after a rain interruption to go down 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to Tursunov.
Tursunov and Simon will play for the championship. The big question on the minds of all American tennis players and fans alike has to be what can be done to reclaim the thrown or is it too late. American tennis is on the decline. While we root for the Americans the routes have not followed the cheers. I love tennis but I have to admit I know far too few people who are interested in the sport. Sadly I think it is a trend and unless something is done by the USTA I feel the way of the sport in the States is over. I just hope there is a rising star in the juniors.
