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Andy Roddick’s latest loss to Marin Cilic in the quarter finals of the Australian Open highlighted the fact that USA is no longer a force to be reckoned with in men’s Tennis. America always had great Tennis material in legends such as Arthur Ash, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras.

The good ol' days

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Since the start of the open era and the beginning of professional tennis, USA had two main periods where American Tennis players ruled the ATP. The first was in the mid 70’s till the mid 80’s when the famous Connors-McEnroe rivalry featured in different Grand Slam and ATP finals with Bjorn Borg becoming a tough opponent for both the Americans those years. The 2nd successful period was when Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras prospered all through the 90’s until the 00’s (with a special mention to Jim Courier who won 4 grand slam titles in the early 90’s) grabbing 22 grand slam titles between them, providing memorable encounters such as the 1990,2001 and 2002 US Open finals.

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With Sampras and Agassi reaching the end of their careers, America looked for an heir, and they found one in the young Andy Roddick as he managed to beat Sampras, Ivanisavic and Gustavo Kuerten since he turned into pro in 2000. In 2003 Roddick reached the semis of the Australian Open and won the US Open, finishing number 1 in the end of 2003. With his trademark powerful serves (recorded the fastest serve in the history of Tennis with 155 Mph) and never say die attitude Roddick became a main figure in the top 10. However, since his win at the US Open Roddick hasn’t won any Grand Slams, being outplayed time and time again by (mostly) Federer, Nadal and others who highlighted the fact that Roddick may be an exiting player to watch and is a fantastic server, but is very limited in most aspects of the game.

The best proof for the decline of American Tennis is the fact that the 7 year period since 2003 is the longest that no American won a Grand Slam. Apart from Roddick, the other Americans who proved to be somewhat significant in the tour in recent years are  James Blake who’s best achievement is the Masters Cup Final in 2006 which he lost in straight sets to who else but… Roger Federer. Mardy Fish, Robby Ginepri (who managed to reach 15 in the ATP Ranking in the end of 2005) and Taylor Dent have been regarded as talented each with his own style of play, although not enough to make it count in major tournaments.

A look at The USA Davis Cup team will show that since 1997 the team reached three finals finishing runners up to Sweden in 1997 (with an infamous 5-0 humiliation) and Spain in 2004. However they won against Russia in 2007. The American team possess the number one seeded double, Bob and Mike Bryan and Andy Roddick. Roddick ,who is 27 years old, is the youngest member of the team(the Bryan brothers are 31 and James Blake is 30 years old) which implements that the team will have a tough time as sufficient back ups haven’t come up just yet and as we all know the clock is ticking. However, the USA are still a powerhouse in the Davis Cup as they hold the record for playing in the World Group for ongoing consecutive years, as it stands on 22 years at the moment.

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However, there just might be some hope for American tennis, as two up and coming players threaten to make it to the top 15 this year. One of them is the 2.06 meters high, John Isner, who is currently seeded 29th in the world and after his latest achievements (4th round of the Australian Open 2010 and the US Open 2009) he seems to have potential to be a top 10 player in the upcoming years, as he managed to beat top notch players such as Gael Monfils and Andy Roddick with the help of his powerful serve. The other player who seems to have potential is Sam Querrey who like his doubles team-mate, John Isner,  is a tennis giant notching up to 1.98 meters. Both players featured in all the Grand Slams with minor success though they left an impression and left a bit of hope for mens Tennis in America.

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So, American mens Tennis has come up a bit short (only in terms of success) these days but with two talents on the way to become an integral part of the elite of the ATP and one Andy Roddick who can maybe serve his way to another long awaited and coveted Grand Slam, America is maybe not so far from finding their next Tennis superstar.

Two Time Champions – Patrick Rafter (Australia), Stefan Edberg (Sweden) and Andre Agassi (United States)

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Patrick Rafter was a late bloomer in tennis, and really boomed into the scene in 1997, when he was already a six year tour veteran. After reaching the semi final in the French Open that year, he shocked the tennis world by winning the US Open, his first Grand Slam title and only second career singles title by that time. He beat Greg Rusedski in the final, after knocking out Andre Agassi and Michael Chang in the earlier rounds. In 1998 Rafter enjoyed his best career year, winning six tournaments, including his second consecutive US Open title, beating fellow Australian Mark Philippoussis.

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A funny fact about Edberg’s six Grand Slam – He won them in turns – He won the Australian Open twice, in 1985 and 1987. He Moved on to dominate Wimbledon, winning twice there too, in 1988 and 1990. And then, it was the US Open turn, his final two singles grand slams – 1991 and 1992. In both finals he beat Americans – 1991 it was Jim Courier and in 1992 he beat Pete Sampras.

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Unlike Rafter and Edberg, Agassi didn’t win his two titles back to back. He also didn’t have a perfect US Open finals record. Agassi lost four times in the US Open final – Three times to Pete Sampras – in 1990, 1995 and 2002, and once to Roger Federer, in 2005. In 1994 Agassi became the unseeded player to win the US Open, beating Michael Stich in the final. In 1999, after winning the French Open, completing his career grand slam, and losing the Wimbledon Finals to Pete Sampras, he beat Todd Martin in the US Open final in a five setter. That Year Agassi finished as no.1 in the world, ending Sampras’ six year streak.

Three Wins – Ivan Lendl (Czech/United Stated)

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The best player in the world in the second half of the 1980’s, period. No Wimbledon titles in his career may dent his impressive resume, but Lendl was the best between 1985-1989. He won eight Grand Slams between 1984-1989, including three back to back to back US Open championships. In 1985 he beat John McEnroe in straight sets in the final. In 1986 it was fellow Czech Miroslav Mecir that he crushed in an easy straight sets win. In 1987 it was a lot harder, beating Mats Wilander in four sets, that included two tie breaks. Lendl reached the final of the US Open five more times.

Four Time Winner – John McEnroe (United States)

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The guy who patented “you can’t be serious” and is remembered more for his on and off court behaviour than his actual tennis achievements, was a great player for those who forget – seven grand slam titles, three in Wimbledon and four at the US Open. He won his first US Open in 1979, becoming the youngest men’s player to do so, by beating Vitas Gerulaitis in the Final. Like Lendl, he also had a streak of three, and in 1980 he won it again, beating Bjorn Borg in five sets, getting revenge on Borg who beat him in a classic Wimbledon final a few months earlier. It was Borg again in 1981, both at the Wimbledon and US Open finals. McEnroe won them both. In 1984, after losing to Lendl in the French Open Final and beating Connors in the Wimbledon final, McEnroe beat Lendl in the US Open final in straight sets, his final singles grand slam title.

Five Time Champions – Jimmy Connors (United States), Pete Sampras (United States) and Roger Federer (Switzerland)

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Jimmy Connors was the first man to win the US Open five times, his favorite venue during his career. He won his first US Open in 1974, beating Ken Rosewall at Wimbledon and in New York. Connors didn’t play in the French Open that year due to his refusal to join the ATP, and missed out on an opportunity to win all four grand slams that year (He also won the Australian Open). In 1976 he beat Borg and in 1978 continued his Home Soil domination over the Swede. In 1982 and 1983 Connors won the title back to back, beating Ivan Lendl twice in the final.

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Pete Sampras began his grand slam trophy cabinet with a 1990 US Open win over Andre Agassi, and sealed it with the US Open win over Agassi, in 2002. His usually remembered for his seven Wimbledon titles, but between 1990-1996 he won four US Open titles and was very hard to beat there in the first part of his career. 1990 – Sampras, at 19, became the youngest ever US Open champion, beating Agassi in straight sets. 1993 – Cedric Pioline of France also fell to Sampras in straight sets. 1995 – Andre Agassi again, this time in four sets. 1996 – Michael Chang lost to Sampras, straight sets. 2002 – Sampras won the US Open, beating Andre Agassi again, and never played in the tour again, leaving the game as the greatest player ever. Until Roger Federer broke out in 2003.

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Now this is the greatest player ever. After his Roland Garros win this spring, completing his career grand slam, and after winning Wimbledon two months ago, grabbing his record 15th grand slam title, there’s no doubt. And he’s special at the US Open as well. Fed has won the US Open five times, back to back to back to back to back! He is the defending champion, with David Nalbandian the last man to beat him there, back in the fourth round of the 2003 US Open. 2004 – He beat Lleyton Hewitt. 2005 – Beat Andre Agassi, dropping only two sets through the whole tournament. 2006 – He beat Andy Roddick. 2007 – Novak Djokovic was the victim. 2008 – Andy Murray, in Federer’s only grand slam title that year.