American men hit a new low

The first-round exits of Steve Johnson and Ryan Harrison on Wednesday saw just three American men in the second round of the US Open, the fewest in the tournament's history.

John Isner, the 13th-seeded US No 1, Sam Querrey and wild-card Tim Smyczek all booked their second-round berths on Tuesday.

But the trio remaining from 12 homegrown contenders who started the final Grand Slam of the season underscored the bleak landscape of men's tennis in America.

Andy Roddick's 2003 US Open triumph marks the last time an American man hoisted a Grand Slam trophy.

For a nation that has produced 51 men's major winners in the Open era - more than twice as many as any other country - it is a baffling lack of success.

The burden to turn things around has long fallen on Isner as the top-ranked American, but after his first-round win over compatriot Marcos Giron on Tuesday, Isner said he could not afford to think that way.

"I don't look at it that way," he said. "I try not to focus on some of the negative things that people say about American tennis.

"I know I get the brunt of it a lot because if I win and play well it's because I have a big serve and I can hit my forehand pretty well and that's it.

"But if I lose, it's only because that's all I can do. So, I mean, sometimes I feel like I can't win no matter what."

A lackluster French Open showing, with no American men in the quarterfinals, was followed by a dismal Wimbledon campaign that saw ninth-seeded Isner, the last US man standing, knocked out in the third round.

Although the game remains a niche sport in a country where NFL, basketball and baseball dominate, the lack of success is more keenly felt during the US Open, where the likes of Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi once ruled.

"It's not the greatest it's been," Isner said. "But really I just, I don't know."

(China Daily 08/29/2014 page24)