In 2005, Pete Sampras had retired, while Andre Agassi was at the twilight of his career. Young Americans Andy Roddick and James Blake led a pool of players eager to grasp the torch from the two legends. However, one name lost among the heirs apparent was Robby Ginepri, whose ranking soared to world No. 15 after a semifinal run at the U. S. Open that year. Roddick’s and Blake's accomplishments are well documented now, whereas Ginepri appeared to become a bygone competitor contemplating retirement. However, a title run last week at the Tallahassee Challenger afforded the American new life and an opportunity to compete in the main draw of a Grand Slam once again.

For many who have reached heights comparable to Ginepri, a Challenger title may not carry significant weight. For the veteran, though, the Tallahassee title produced a wildcard entry into Roland Garros. It is also Ginepri’s first championship at a level more notable than a Futures event since 2009, when he claimed the former Indianapolis ATP 250 event. Battling through recent injuries and difficulties, his accomplishment at Tallahassee is noteworthy.

For the better part of 2005-06, Ginepri was a regular inside the world top 25 with victories over top-10 players such as Nikolay Davydenko, Marat Safin, Andy Roddick and Tommy Robredo. However, the Florida native watched his ranking plummet to No. 442 this April, following a sequence of ebbs and flows.

Ginepri has been no stranger to adversity, fighting through obstacles on more than one occasion during his tumultuous career. After his early success, he found himself in a hospital for nine days as he underwent emergency appendix surgery in early 2009. Subsequently, his ranking fell to No. 114. Nonetheless, rebounding with victories against fellow Americans John Isner and Sam Querrey, Ginepri took the Indianapolis title that season.

A more damaging stumbling block occurred late in 2010. Ginepri was forced to undergo surgery on his arm after a mountain bike accident near his Georgia home. This sidelined him for nine months and sent him into a tailspin that saw his ranking nosedive. Since the accident, Ginepri's best ranking has been No. 181. However, the American turned to Futures and Challenger events to supplement ATP tournaments, where he struggled to qualify. In 2014, he has only qualified for two top ATP events, Indian Wells and Houston, where he fell in the first round of both. The recent series of events forced Ginepri to consider retirement.

“Last year and the year before, I was contemplating retiring,” he said. But, with a wildcard into the main draw at Roland Garros, Ginepri felt he had earned a new lease on his career. “I’m thrilled to go back to Paris, it’s a special place for me,” he responded. “This is a good reward, and I’m definitely eager to work as hard as I can leading into the French and fight hard.”

With the Tallahassee title, Ginepri saw his ranking improve dramatically. At 31 years old and a career recently teetering on retirement, a question mark lies to whether he will build upon last week's success. However, the American certainly feels the momentum. “It’s a big boost,” and it comes at the right time for me,” he said.

With a glaring light shone upon the struggles of the American men on tour, Robbie Ginepri has continued to fight to remain relevant. Although he will not return to his success of nearly a decade ago, much can be learned and admired by the next generation of United States prospects who may look up to the veteran’s perseverance. Whereas many may have relinquished their dreams in lieu of facing adversity head on, Ginepri has steadied the course, fighting injury, illness, and setbacks. Now, with Roland Garros approaching, he will reap the fruit of his steady determination with an opportunity to compete on one of the largest stages in tennis one more time.