The US Open saw transformation in the American tennis world. Andy Roddick the sole flag bearer for mens tennis in America called time on his career at the age of 30. Could be seen as premature, but I think deep down he knew there was only one direction his career was going and that was down. No shame in admitting that the fight is no longer there. Also Serena triumphed again in New York and at the age of 31 you wonder how much mileage she has left. Her sister Venus has certainly passed her peak and is enjoying more doubles success than singles.
So here we are. Looking at the current men candidates. Fish is not getting younger and continuing health difficulties may cut short his career despite the massive turnaround in fortunes he had to get himself to where he is in the game. Isner is showing just how limited he is. He has worst return of serve statistics in the top 100. I think he has only won 11% of return games I heard. If the serve and FH go amiss, he is extremely vulnerable. Querrey has enjoyed a return to form, though I can't really see him pushing on. Just doesn't have enough weapons to hurt the top 10. Ryan Harrison looks promising. Big serve and FH. Solid BH. His serve however breaks down far too easily and you wonder without a slice BH whether he can go higher in the game. Donald Young. Well he is on the way down.
The women. Well it looks quite thin outside the Williams. Stephens looks like a decent prospect as does Madison Keys. Hampton and Oudin I have reservations over whether they will be genuine Slam prospects in the singles field. It is painfully worrying for the Americans to have such a lack of depth in the womens game. Such a golden period of the Williams, Capriati, Davenport. In a sense like the mens side when they had Sampras, Agassi, Courier, Martin and Roddick. They had depth.
I look forward and in Jack Sock I see someone who could potentially mount a challenge in the future. Has a solid serve, FH and BH. He is competent at the net. For me he is one to look out for. Stephens at a push could do well on the womens side. Improved stamina will see her move up the rankings. The rest, well it is does leave some massive question marks to exactly how far the talent in this current generation can go.
Worrying times for the USTA who in previous generations had a wealth of talent who could contest the Slams.
American Idol - Who's Next?
posted on 18/9/12
They don have anyone coming trough. Jack Sock will not scale the heights. Maybe you should try and claim Raonic as a septic
posted on 19/9/12
i'd like to hear your opinions on how the Americans are going to pull themselves out of this serious dip in talent and with whom?
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Thanks Polbethian. Glad you enjoy reading my articles and thank you for the kind words.
Well Jack Sock and Melanie Oudin won the US Open MD in 2011. For such a young pair, that was a hell of an achievement. Oudin done well at the US Open in 2009 when she was 17 I think and also had a good run at Wimbledon in the same year. WTA age restrictions do prohibit the amount of tournaments under 18 year olds can play. I can't recall she suffered many injuries, but her movement has certainly slowed down which is alarming. Sloane Stephens looks like a decent prospect. Had a good run at the French Open this year. She has managed to progress beyond the first rounds of the Slams this year and usually that is a good indication of where the talent is and how is can be expanded. Madison Keys is certainly one to look out for in the future. Only 17, but she won her first WTA match at the age of 14.
The male counterparts are more worrying. When you look at the current established order in Isner, Querrey, Fish and Harrison it is difficult to seriously see a challenger for the Slams. I thought Isner could've done more at the US Open given the draw he had. I look at Johnson who broke through at the US Open, but difficult to see him mount a serious challenge. Jack Sock looks like for me a future Slam winner. I think the doubles he plays too will only help his game in the singles format even more. He is a former Juniors champion at the US Open. I watched him dismantle Mayer at the US Open. Absolutely hit him off the court.
In terms of the USTA and how it develops talent is second to none. The college format they have is superb. It serves well for their Orange Bowl competition. Something I wish the LTA over here would do. You have the Nick Bollettieri has produced some players in his time. He has a majority of HC and I think they serve quite well despite Clay proving to be more instrumental in player development these days. Chris Evert has her tennis academy and as does Tracy Austin. John McEnroe and Patrick McEnroe run an academy with nothing but HC's. There is no doubt American tennis will continue to produce stars, but questionable whether they will be in the same league as names gone by.
posted on 19/9/12
it really is unbelievable though that over here in Europe there is a constant feed of talent. i don't know what the funding is like per capita compared to the states but i wouldn't think Europe provides much more compared to over the pond.
posted on 19/9/12
I think the main reasons for the pool of talent is that the conditions of the modern game favour the style of tennis. There is an array of clay courts and given the technology those players brought up on clay can rally better than those who are fed on hardcourts.
The LTA fail massively because of their guidelines and stupid programs which don't help support development. Hence why player like Murray, Robson, Watson and even Ward finished their training in different countries. Oliver Golding's mum was doing a sterling job in helping the LTA youngsters because she owns her own court and she was held in high esteem because of the training she was doing that the LTA intervened and prevented her from training these youngsters!! They have all these multi-coloured ball schemes and systems which are just pants. You get 11-15 year olds still not hitting yellow balls like the adults do. Andy Murray was 7 when he started hitting with yellow balls and was 14 when became Britain's number 1 junior.
For me the LTA need to do the following:
- Create more courts at schools and encourage regional competition
- Build more clay courts
- Get rid of the coloured ball system
- Allow juniors turning professional funding to hire a coach who can help improve results and performance and even employ on a Pbr basis
For me those changes would help the LTA in producing more talent to compete on the world stage.
posted on 19/9/12
Instead of spending 50 mill on national tennis centre, LTA should have either given 500k to 110 tennis clubs nationally to build indoor facilities and/or built their own facility in Spain/Portugal where land is cheaper and weather allows more outdoor play especially on clay.
Am on the fence regarding colour balls, the mini red is good as is court sizes but the sooner they're hitting proper balls the better and I think there is too much delay in that in the LTA system.
Having said that, more and more countries are actually adopting the system.
posted on 19/9/12
I think just do away with the colour scheme entirely. The court dimensions and ball colour/weight will then be in tandem with what they would expect on tour. It saves less confusion and also can channel the efforts to one skill set essentially.
Tennis clubs should be given funding to produce multi surfaces indoors. I think the LTA needs to trust local tennis coaches and the players they produce if good enough should be sent to the LTA in Roehampton to see if they could qualify for for further professional coaching. This is where the LTA could mirror the Spanish set-up and have ex or current pro's to hit with the youngsters and have them form an opinion on the individuals.
posted on 19/9/12
Disagree, the mini red balls/foam balls are perfect for the younger kids.
posted on 19/9/12
When I say disagree, I meant with the first para, second para I completely agree with.
posted on 20/9/12
i'd love to have seen johnny mac in the day of the top 4 players today and the
"whatthefeckdoyoumeanyoucachallenge"
best player i ever had the pleasure to set my eyes on. tv of course
posted on 20/9/12
American men in the top 100, beginning of 1990.
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Rankings/Singles.aspx?d=01.01.1990&r=1&c=USA#
American men in the top 100, beginning of 2000.
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Rankings/Singles.aspx?d=10.01.2000&r=1&c=USA#
American men currently in the top 100.
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Rankings/Singles.aspx?d=17.09.2012&r=1&c=USA#
The amount of players in the top 100 as well as the ranking of them have both worsened over time.