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Cursed by Clay? Spring Drought Looms for American Men

Apr 14th 2014

A few years ago, one of the recurring narratives in the tennis world was the decline of American men’s tennis. Andy Roddick’s career had declined, James Blake fell from his peak quickly, and Mardy Fish—who looked like he could compete at the top levels—had his career essentially come to an abrupt end with a heart condition.

A few years later, this story is mostly history. American tennis is no longer in decline. It has declined. As far as competing for major titles, the American men have become mostly irrelevant. John Isner, with his big serve, continues to represent the country well and stay around the top 10-20. Other than that, though, there currently is not much to be said for the Americans.

John Isner

Another historical storyline from the last 20 years is that the Americans struggle on clay. Most Americans grow up playing on hard courts and are not used to moving on the red dirt. Also, most Americans now play power games tailored to faster courts, and the higher-bouncing clay is very effective at neutralizing those games. Put these two facts together, and the American picture over the next two months does not look promising.

The first clay Masters 1000 of the year is currently being contested in Monte Carlo. It’s not an obligatory Masters, and many of the top Americans over the years have passed up competing. This year, not a single American is in the main draw. In fact, not a single American attempted to qualify.

A better gauge of American interest and potential during the clay season comes from the American clay Challenger tournaments. There are three clay Challengers in Sarasota, Savannah, and Tallahassee during this three-week period. The top point-earner among the American competitors will receive a wildcard to the French Open.

The American presence in the Sarasota draw is far from underwhelming. Most of the large group of Americans ranked from No. 80 to No. 150 are competing. The tournament will give us a good idea of how players like Donald Young, Jack Sock, and Tim Smyczek can compete on clay. Also, keep an eye on Jarmere Jenkins. The former NCAA standout is probably a year or two away from being competitive on the Challenger Tour, but he has the potential to be a top-50 player someday.

That last sentence highlights the difference in American tennis between now and five years ago. There is exactly one American in the top 50. The second-ranked American is Bradley Klahn at world No. 68. Americans are having difficulty competing anywhere on the ATP World Tour, and clay will make it even tougher.

John Isner

This brings us back to John Isner. He has been carrying the American men’s flag for a few years, but now more than ever the burden falls entirely on his shoulders. He is the only American ranked high enough to gain direct entry to the clay Masters 1000 events in Madrid and Rome in May. Unless someone comes through the qualifying draws, then, he will be the only American in those draws.

Isner does have great potential on clay. He pushed Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros in 2011 farther than anyone else in the draw could that year. Unless someone surprising steps up in a huge way, as Jack Sock might in a year, it will be entirely up to Isner to bear the American standard on the European dirt.