U.S. Open Preview
Where are all the Young Americans?
By Jamie Lay (posted 8-24-08)
A week before the US Open, Amanda McDowell, the NCAA women’s singles champion, snuck into Arthur Ashe Stadium, the main court at the Billy Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. The court has been the main stage for the last Grand Slam of the year since 1997 and McDowell had to see it. With only a spot in the US Open women’s qualifying draw, she knew this might be her only chance.
"It’s huge,” she told SportsUnlimited a few days before her first match. “I went into Arthur Ashe Stadium today and just looked up. It was overwhelming.”
On Wednesday McDowell faced Julie Coin, the 188th ranked player in the world, in the first round of the qualifying draw. The Frenchwoman dominated the Georgia Tech senior 6-1, 6-1, ending her dreams of a night match at Arthur Ashe Stadium this year. Though McDowell will have another chance next year when she turns pro.
Any other year, she would have had a spot in the main draw. But, for the first time in history, the USTA didn’t award the NCAA women’s single champion a wild card position in the US Open. Instead they grouped McDowell with 65 other ladies, vying for six spaces. This move was not only an insult to McDowell, she said, it was a knock on college tennis.
“It’s sort of sad,” McDowell said. “The USTA talks a lot about supporting college tennis and how it’s such a great stepping stone. You got to give the college players who are out there and are doing well the chance, the opportunity they deserve.
I feel even more motivated now to really prove them wrong and hopefully they don’t make the same mistake again,” McDowell continued. “If I do well here, hopefully anyone that would win the NCAA’s will get a wild card into the main draw. I’m just hoping I can do well not only for myself but to say something about college tennis as well.”
McDowell’s statement, however courageous, is a little idealistic. For a long time the best American players have picked the professional route over college. Players have a relatively short shelf life, retiring from competition after about 15 years. The 18 to 22-year-old period, when a player would normally attend college, is often the prime of a player’s career.
In addition, former college players haven’t had much success at the pro level. The last former American college tennis player to break into the top 20 in singles was Lisa Raymond in 1997. The Florida Gator won the 1992 and 1993 NCAA women’s singles titles and turned pro May 1993. In her 15-year career Raymond won four WTA singles tournaments but was better known for doubles. She captured 66 doubles titles, including 9 grand slams. College tennis programs haven’t produced a grand slam winner since.
Last summer, the USTA gave the NCAA men’s singles runner-up John Isner a wild card into the US Open draw (Reason: he is tall and American). He enthused tennis fans by not only reaching the third round but also taking a set off the former No. 1 ranked player in the world Roger Federer, an achievement considering he was virtually unbeatable at the time. Isner’s height, 6-10, provided him an advantage over other players, though he rarely came up to the net. For the first three months Isner’s big serve carried him, the angle of attack is nearly vertical. Then players began uncovering his weaknesses. He’s all serve and no volley. A powerful forehand and no backhand. His game is rather undeveloped – something you could say about many American players today.
So I ask now, is it over? Were the 90s the golden age of American tennis? Will college tennis programs contribute anymore to the US Open’s main draw?
Not to worry, there are plenty of young American players training in Bradenton, Sarasota and Tampa, Fla. (I peaked in the indoor courts at the IMG Academy and saw a six-year-old hitting passing shots by instructors. Close by the famed Nick Bollittieri wearing his trademark shades was smiling). Melanie Oudin, a 16-year-old from Atlanta, is the No. 3 ranked junior in the world. She will likely play for the US Open junior girl’s singles title next week. As for college tennis, former French Open doubles champion and ESPN tennis analyst Luke Jensen is ready for the challenge.
In 2006, Jensen took the unenviable position of coaching the Syracuse women’s tennis team, a mediocre program in the Big East. At the time it was an unusual move for a man who already conducts more than 70 charity events, seminars and tennis clinics around the world each year in addition to his onsite commentary at every Grand Slam for ESPN. He was tired of sitting on the sidelines watching American college tennis become irrelevant.
“We’re producing very few good Americans,” Jensen told SportsUnlimited. “I had to do something about it.”
Instead of coaching players to win national championships, he thought, let’s train them like professionals. He asks each player to commit up to six hours a day for tennis and put them up against the best competition.
Obviously, Syracuse isn’t attracting players from Florida. But Jensen has had some success recruiting in other areas: he recently signed the top player from West Virginia, Emily Harman. He believes it will eventually bring more of the best American players to college tennis
“If a kid doesn’t make it,” he said, “if they flame out, they get injured. The worse thing that can happen [if they attend college instead of turning pro] is they get a degree.”
McDowell, who may be a top-20 player one day, agrees with Jensen’s assessment.
“I really felt like college is the right fit for me to grow to the player I want to be when I turn pro,” she said. “At the highest level in college I think it’s just as good if not better than a lot of the girls I played this summer [on the USTA pro circuit]. It shows you can take the college tennis route and still be successful.”
The American Draw
Andy Roddick – Ranked No. 8
When is Roddick making an appearance on HBO’s Entourage? He is more deserved of that company than Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal. He can’t complete with either of those guys anymore at the Grand Slam level. I think anyone would love to spend a day in Andy’s shoes but the 26-year-old hasn’t improved since he won the US Open in 2003. He doesn’t have a backhand. Watch him at the US Open. He runs around his backhand like he’s afraid he might hurt it. Only my brother runs around the stroke more than Roddick (wink).
However, Roddick isn’t a one hit wonder. He’s managed to stay relevant and in the top 10 for many years by winning tournaments here and there, but at the moment his game is not developing. He has tried to change (hiring nearly every coach on the market), but it is not working against Nadal or Federer. He’ll act as the face of America tennis until some (ANYONE!) comes along to take his place. There is little motivation for the guy to do it. He’s having too much fun, and can you really blame him?
James Blake – Ranked No. 9
Federer’s “slump” is similar to Tiger’s a few years ago. He is not firing on all cylinders for one reason or another and hasn’t won a Grand Slam this year. Similarly people are making excuses for him. The difference between Tiger’s “slump” and Federer’s, however, is Nadal. He has been the stronger player all year, especially in Wimbledon. Federer’s resilience kept him in the finals more than anything else. Still, I don’t think it was a passing of the torch. Federer has a lot left and he is too good to let Nadal run away with the title of greatest tennis player in history.
This brings us to Federer’s match with James Blake in the Olympics. I wouldn’t read too much into it. A closer look at the loss shows that Federer made an uncharacteristically high number (56) of unforced errors. I don’t think this match is an indicator of Blake’s future success in the US Open either. He’s been unbelievable inconsistent this year. He, like Andy Roddick, hasn’t been able to finish longer matches against top ranked opponents.
No. 3 Novak Djokovic quickly thanked Blake for upsetting Federer by overpowering him 6-3, 7-6 in the next round. I don’t think Blake shares the same court as the Serbian. His star is rising while the major-less Blake is really just an inspirational story of perseverance over tragedy (Read his book). He has admitted that he could retire today and be happy. That’s not a person motivated to win a Grand Slam.
Mardy Fish - Ranked No. 35
I almost forgot about The Fish. He upset Federer in the Pacific Life semifinals in March and lost in the final to Djovokic in three sets. It was a huge jump in the rankings for the recently married man. But he hasn’t really done anything spectacular since. I would except to see him in the third round but not beyond it.
Who is the only American men’s player to reach the 3rd round at Wimbledon?
Bobby Reynolds from Atlanta.
Who is the only American men’s player to make the 4th round in Roland Garros?
Robby Ginepri from Atlanta.
Who is the biggest surprise this year among the American men?
Sam Querrey. The 21-year-old won Las Vegas, made the quarterfinals in Monte Carlo and the semifinals at Indianapolis. Currently ranked No. 54 (top 40 in May), he is ready for a break through performance in a Grand Slam. Why not this year’s US Open?