I don’t know why I’ve become such a US sympathiser when it comes to tennis. It’s not as if our pals across the pond are short of supporters in any of their sporting endeavours.
Or so you would think. As it goes, when it comes to tennis, the majority of American sports fans these days fall into one of two broad camps: indifference, or scornful disbelief – can the leader of the free world really no longer have a man in the world's top 10? It’s unthinkable. To a country that more often than not finds itself at the top of countless sporting leaderboards, not winning – at least sometimes – is simply not an option.
Perhaps this attitude is borne out of having so-called ‘world series’ competitions in your national sports but not inviting any other nations along to participate. I jest. Well, sort of. In all seriousness, the US has always been a nation that has excelled in all areas of sporting achievement. Their amazing strength in depth in both individual and team competition must surely come from the extensive infrastructure that supports, encourages and promotes sporting endeavour from pre-school right through to the exclusive college scholarships and lucrative cooperate sponsorship deals at the professional end. Sport is big business, but yet it appeals to every young American, the allure of honing yourself as a physical specimen whilst bringing home glory for the red, white and blue too strong for its wide-eyed and hopeful youth.
And tennis was no different. American mens’ tennis seemed to experience a perpetual glory era, and in my earliest memories of Wimbledon lurk the brash characters of Connors and Macenroe, followed in the 90’s by the consistently brilliant Sampras and the wildly talented and charimastic Agassi. A little later followed Andy Roddick, who although never seemingly reaching his full potential, still has a Grand Slam title under his belt and years in the top 10 to be proud of. America have always had a few guys at the top to shout about.
So why am I so bothered about them, and why now? The state of American tennis and the frustration at their recent lack of success felt by the general populace was never clearer than at this year’s US Open, where the current pretenders to the almighty shoes of Macenroe, Sampras et al were relentlessly interrogated by the American media about the pressure to perform and the almost pathological desire of Americans to be in the top 10.
‘We’re doing our best,’ replied Sam Querrey, the youngest of the current crop of top Americans at 23. He was pragmatic in his responses to the success-hungry media and I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him, and also view very distinct parallels between himself and some of our own athletes and sportspeople, as the pressure of national expectation was hung over him like the sword of Damocles. The British media are frequently lambasted by other countries for being too hard on our sportspeople and piling on the pressure, but it seems that the American media are no better. Despite an inconsistent year, the affable Querrey has won four ATP 250 titles, but has lacked confidence on the bigger stages and has openly admitted that at times he just isn’t at the top of his game. How much of this, one sometimes wonders, is down to the sheer weight of expectation being shovelled onto his not inconsiderable shoulders.
Coping better with the pressure it seems is Mardy Fish. The most experienced of the current in-form crop at the age of 28, Fish lost 30lbs following a special nutrition and fitness regime and has since become a completely new player, performing spectacularly in 2010. He has picked up two titles and numerous final appearances, and he put in one of the strongest American performances in history in the recent Davis Cup play-off against Chile, playing three of the four rubbers, totalling over 11 hours tennis in three consecutive days, singles and doubles, at 9000ft altitude, and all with the crowd against him. An absolutely Spartan effort.
Making up the trio of American hopefuls is 6’9” John Isner, who shot to tennis fame this year after his epic first round tie at Wimbledon against Nicolas Mahut. He really seems to be the hot prospect, currently developing the weaker areas of his game to add to the giant, high-bouncing serve that is already frustrating opponents at all levels, and has been tipped to break into the top 10 in 2011.
So maybe things aren’t so bad after all? To a British tennis fan, of course, four players in the top 25 is an unimaginable fantasy. But even if we had that, would we let them rest easy in the comfort of their already admirable achievements? Would we bollocks. We’d expect Grand Slam titles to be seeping from every gold-rimmed orifice, year after triumph-filled year. Would we have the right to expect this? Absolutely not. Do the Americans? Arguably, yes. I’m British and I can’t help but support the underdog. And however paradoxic it may seem, right now, unbelievably, in the world of tennis, Team America are just that.
Or so you would think. As it goes, when it comes to tennis, the majority of American sports fans these days fall into one of two broad camps: indifference, or scornful disbelief – can the leader of the free world really no longer have a man in the world's top 10? It’s unthinkable. To a country that more often than not finds itself at the top of countless sporting leaderboards, not winning – at least sometimes – is simply not an option.
Perhaps this attitude is borne out of having so-called ‘world series’ competitions in your national sports but not inviting any other nations along to participate. I jest. Well, sort of. In all seriousness, the US has always been a nation that has excelled in all areas of sporting achievement. Their amazing strength in depth in both individual and team competition must surely come from the extensive infrastructure that supports, encourages and promotes sporting endeavour from pre-school right through to the exclusive college scholarships and lucrative cooperate sponsorship deals at the professional end. Sport is big business, but yet it appeals to every young American, the allure of honing yourself as a physical specimen whilst bringing home glory for the red, white and blue too strong for its wide-eyed and hopeful youth.
And tennis was no different. American mens’ tennis seemed to experience a perpetual glory era, and in my earliest memories of Wimbledon lurk the brash characters of Connors and Macenroe, followed in the 90’s by the consistently brilliant Sampras and the wildly talented and charimastic Agassi. A little later followed Andy Roddick, who although never seemingly reaching his full potential, still has a Grand Slam title under his belt and years in the top 10 to be proud of. America have always had a few guys at the top to shout about.
So why am I so bothered about them, and why now? The state of American tennis and the frustration at their recent lack of success felt by the general populace was never clearer than at this year’s US Open, where the current pretenders to the almighty shoes of Macenroe, Sampras et al were relentlessly interrogated by the American media about the pressure to perform and the almost pathological desire of Americans to be in the top 10.
‘We’re doing our best,’ replied Sam Querrey, the youngest of the current crop of top Americans at 23. He was pragmatic in his responses to the success-hungry media and I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him, and also view very distinct parallels between himself and some of our own athletes and sportspeople, as the pressure of national expectation was hung over him like the sword of Damocles. The British media are frequently lambasted by other countries for being too hard on our sportspeople and piling on the pressure, but it seems that the American media are no better. Despite an inconsistent year, the affable Querrey has won four ATP 250 titles, but has lacked confidence on the bigger stages and has openly admitted that at times he just isn’t at the top of his game. How much of this, one sometimes wonders, is down to the sheer weight of expectation being shovelled onto his not inconsiderable shoulders.
Coping better with the pressure it seems is Mardy Fish. The most experienced of the current in-form crop at the age of 28, Fish lost 30lbs following a special nutrition and fitness regime and has since become a completely new player, performing spectacularly in 2010. He has picked up two titles and numerous final appearances, and he put in one of the strongest American performances in history in the recent Davis Cup play-off against Chile, playing three of the four rubbers, totalling over 11 hours tennis in three consecutive days, singles and doubles, at 9000ft altitude, and all with the crowd against him. An absolutely Spartan effort.
Making up the trio of American hopefuls is 6’9” John Isner, who shot to tennis fame this year after his epic first round tie at Wimbledon against Nicolas Mahut. He really seems to be the hot prospect, currently developing the weaker areas of his game to add to the giant, high-bouncing serve that is already frustrating opponents at all levels, and has been tipped to break into the top 10 in 2011.
So maybe things aren’t so bad after all? To a British tennis fan, of course, four players in the top 25 is an unimaginable fantasy. But even if we had that, would we let them rest easy in the comfort of their already admirable achievements? Would we bollocks. We’d expect Grand Slam titles to be seeping from every gold-rimmed orifice, year after triumph-filled year. Would we have the right to expect this? Absolutely not. Do the Americans? Arguably, yes. I’m British and I can’t help but support the underdog. And however paradoxic it may seem, right now, unbelievably, in the world of tennis, Team America are just that.
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