The article compares the performance of American and other tennis players at the four Grand Slam tennis events, particularly the US Open.
Although the number of events won during the year contributes to ATP and WTA Tour rankings, the true measure of a player on the professional tennis tours is how he/she did in the Grand Slam events. Perhaps a country’s current and future tennis success also might be measured by examining the performance of its tennis players, including its juniors, in Grand Slam events as well.
Measuring Success
Although one could establish an in-depth formula with a number of criteria, a rudimentary and admittedly simplistic measure might be, “How many titles did a country win at each Grand Slam event?” A side note of interest might be how many event titles did a country win in its own national event. The following is the result of such a cursory examination, beginning with the Australian Open and concluding with the US Open.
Australian Open
At the First Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open, Russia had four title winners in three events (Girls’ Singles, Girls’ Doubles and Mixed Doubles). The US had three titlists in two events, with the Bryan Brothers winning the Men’s Doubles and Serena Williams taking the Women’s Singles. No other country had multiple winners at the Australian Open.
The French Open
Belarus was the premier title winner at the French Open with three different players coming away with championships in three junior events (Boys’ Singles and Doubles, and Girls’ Doubles). France defended its home ground well with titles in Mixed Doubles and Girl’s Singles. Italy also won two titles in Women’s Doubles and Boys’ Doubles. The US was shut out at the French, with none of the men making it past the first round.
Wimbledon
At Wimbledon, Urszula Radwanska won both the Girls’ Singles and Girls’ Doubles events to give Poland two titles and Venus Williams and Donald Young won the Women’s Singles and Boys Singles events respectively to tally two for the US. Italy and France also had two titlists, but each country won a single event: the Boys’ and Gentlemen’s doubles respectively.
The US Open
Perhaps this event ought to have been called the “Un-US Open” since no player from the US won an event. In fact, no American made the finals of the men’s and women’s draws in singles or doubles! Meghann Shaughnessy was the only American to reach a final, doing so in Mixed Doubles. France (Boys’ Doubles and Women’s Doubles) and Belarus (Mixed Doubles and Girls Doubles), on the other hand, each had three players coming away with titles at the US Open. No other country had more than one event champion.
Defending Grand Slam Home Turf
In examining how well each country defended its home turf, the US is the only country that failed to produce at least one event champion at its national event. The Aussies had Brydan Klein taking their one title in the Boys Singles at the Australian. The French won two titles at Roland Garros, with Natalie Dechy and Alize Cornet winning the Mixed Doubles and Girls Singles respectively. Even the British produced a champion at Wimbledon, with Jamie Murray winning the Mixed Doubles with Jelena Jankovic.
US Open Performance a Slap in the Face for US Tennis
The performance of Americans at the 2007 US Open, based upon the criteria of titles claimed, may not be a true reflection of the current and future state of American Tennis. However, for a nation so besot by nationalistic pride that it sometimes borders on jingoism, to have not a single champion at the US Open may be construed as a slap in the face of US tennis.
USTA Initiatives to Turn Things Around
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has turned to local communities in attempts to stimulate and maintain the interest of America’s young athletes in tennis. Programs such as Ralleyball and the soon to be unveiled “36/60” initiative are designed to increase the talent pool from which higher echelon junior development programs can draw. The idea is that learning the game of tennis via fun formats will attract and retain younger players and more players.
Results Needed on Court, not Paper
It appears to be a good plan in theory. However, it remains to be seen whether, in actuality, these new initiatives will eventually turn the tide toward a better defense of home ground at the US Open and produce more wins in Grand Slam events. Until that tide is turned, being shut out in two of the four Grand Slam events, including one’s native championship, will remain unacceptable to those whose blood runs red, white, blue and fuzzy yellow.
