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Why has the US fallen so far in tennis?

Posted on 7/11/18 at 10:46 pm
Posted by MF Doom
I'm only Joshin'
Member since Oct 2008
11712 posts
Posted on 7/11/18 at 10:46 pm
It's been 15 years since Andy Roddick won the US open. 11 years since the US won their last Davis cup. These days we're psyched when a guy just makes it to the semi finals of a grand slam.
It's a bummer growing up in the generation where US men's tennis is shite

How are we so behind Europe? How come we can still be really competitive in golf but not tennis?
Posted by SanAntoneAg
Alamo City
Member since Dec 2017
1753 posts
Posted on 7/11/18 at 10:48 pm to
The two greatest players ever being from Europe probably has something to do with it.
Posted by Paul Allen
Montauk, NY
Member since Nov 2007
75152 posts
Posted on 7/11/18 at 10:48 pm to
McEnroe then Agassi’s popularity in early 90’s helped. Sampras was dominant late 90’s - early 2000’s and then came Roddick who was ok. That’s the last 30 years in a nutshell for American tennis.
Posted by Mr. Elvert
Dallas
Member since Oct 2012
14974 posts
Posted on 7/11/18 at 10:49 pm to
I miss Pete Sampras. As a kid, that 2002 us open gave me chills
Posted by DollaChoppa
I Simp for ACC
Member since May 2008
84774 posts
Posted on 7/11/18 at 10:57 pm to
A few guys dominate it and no one else really matters. There are a lot of countries so it’s kinda random.
Posted by Dawgsontop34
Member since Jun 2014
42471 posts
Posted on 7/11/18 at 11:07 pm to
quote:

How are we so behind Europe? How come we can still be really competitive in golf but not tennis?


It's so much easier to be dominant in tennis than it is golf.
Posted by golftigers
Mandeville
Member since Nov 2003
2513 posts
Posted on 7/11/18 at 11:43 pm to
Lots of good up and coming young US players on both the mens and women's tours. Check back in a couple years:

Women:Stephens (#4) is 25, Keys (#11) is 23, Vandeweghe (#16) is 26, Collins (#41) is 24, 5-6 more young americans in the top 100

Coco Gauff is going to be a world top talent in a few years. She is 14 and the #3 ranked junior in the world

Men: Donaldson (#54) is 21, Tiafoe (#52) is 20, Fritz (#68) is 20, McDonald (#103) is 23. All getting better
Posted by RogerTempleton
Austin
Member since Nov 2014
3015 posts
Posted on 7/11/18 at 11:46 pm to
quote:

Why has the US fallen so far in tennis?



McEnroe and Courier were big in the 80s to inspire kids to play, Pete and Andre dominated in the 90s to inspire kids to play, Roddick was huge in popularity but the next crop didnt quite get it done and dropped off.

Also europeans seemingly got way better at younger ages. Fed, Rafa, and Djokovic dominating has led to a lot of popularity in Europe. No dominant american star to inspire kids.
This post was edited on 7/11/18 at 11:47 pm
Posted by Broski
Member since Jun 2011
70777 posts
Posted on 7/11/18 at 11:51 pm to
quote:

then came Roddick who was ok


He was better than OK, he just came of age at the same time the best to ever play did. Roddick would have at least 6 slam wins if Roger Federer didn't exist.
Posted by RogerTempleton
Austin
Member since Nov 2014
3015 posts
Posted on 7/11/18 at 11:52 pm to
quote:

He was better than OK, he just came of age at the same time the best to ever play did. Roddick would have at least 6 slam wins if Roger Federer didn't exist.


Agreed but that's the issue. No dominant American.
Posted by ReauxlTide222
St. Petersburg
Member since Nov 2010
83430 posts
Posted on 7/12/18 at 12:01 am to
quote:

It's so much easier to be dominant in tennis than it is golf.
Individually, sure.

But we didn't invent golf. And it's easy to say this right now because we're just money..

But American guys are slaughtering in golf.


On the individual level AND as a collective.



So how does your statement that it's easier to dominate tennis apply here?

Is it just an insane era where these too guys keep winning? I'd but that if we had more guys ranked in the top 50, 100, and 200. Aren't we embarrassingly thin at all levels?
Posted by ReauxlTide222
St. Petersburg
Member since Nov 2010
83430 posts
Posted on 7/12/18 at 12:08 am to
quote:

McEnroe and Courier were big in the 80s to inspire kids to play, Pete and Andre dominated in the 90s to inspire kids to play, Roddick was huge in popularity but the next crop didnt quite get it done and dropped off.
I don't buy that these guys make a difference.

How many black guys do you see locked and loaded to make an APPEARANCE on the PGA Tour?

And that's with the GOAT being black, cool as all hell, and as marketable as Jordan.



And the biggest difference he made was showing slightly athletic white guys that golf is cool and they can dominate it.
Posted by UltimateHog
Oregon
Member since Dec 2011
65763 posts
Posted on 7/12/18 at 12:13 am to
:inb4isnerwinswimbledonbump:
Posted by PhilipMarlowe
Member since Mar 2013
20475 posts
Posted on 7/12/18 at 12:50 am to
(no message)
This post was edited on 7/12/18 at 2:12 am
Posted by MF Doom
I'm only Joshin'
Member since Oct 2008
11712 posts
Posted on 7/12/18 at 1:00 am to
quote:

Is it just an insane era where these too guys keep winning? I'd but that if we had more guys ranked in the top 50, 100, and 200. Aren't we embarrassingly thin at all levels?


That's what I don't understand. I know we can't always have a dominant American player but what happened to having just a bunch of good ones? Historically we have the most Davis cup wins and runner ups. Yet, we've only made the semi-final once in the last 10 years
Posted by gthog61
Irving, TX
Member since Nov 2009
71001 posts
Posted on 7/12/18 at 6:16 am to
quote:

And that's with the GOAT being black, cool as all hell, and as marketable as Jordan.



Jack Nicklaus is black?

That 23 and me is amazing.
Posted by PrimeTime Money
Houston, Texas, USA
Member since Nov 2012
27304 posts
Posted on 7/12/18 at 6:58 am to
I’m just guessing here, but maybe it’s has to do with luck.

There have only been a handful of great American tennis players throughout the years. So when we’re only talking about 1 or 2 great players at any given time, it seems entirely statistically reasonable that there could be a period of zero great American players.
Posted by CelticDog
Member since Apr 2015
42867 posts
Posted on 7/12/18 at 8:55 am to
When goran ivanisovic won Wimbledon, 100,000 people greeted him in the Croatia capital split town square.

If an American won, 20 girls would ask selfie in airport.



Posted by CelticDog
Member since Apr 2015
42867 posts
Posted on 7/12/18 at 8:58 am to
Prime time money describes the situation perfectly.

And oh by the way, American Williams sisters dominated the recent history of Wimbledon.

Statistically, the USA is right up there if you count women.
Posted by BobRoss
Member since Jun 2014
1694 posts
Posted on 7/12/18 at 9:02 am to
I'm a bit baffled by this as well.

To be a stud tennis player you need to be big and athletic and get a frick ton of reps.Maybe we're not seeing the participation among that demographic?
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