Archive: steve-johnson
Things are heating up in Australia and this summer it's not the bright sun or heat index or my thermometer. Or outside temperature. Yes, we are close to the equator and need our sunnies. Yes , all the clothing is hot pick and yellow all more reasons to wear "sunnies".
By recent standards, this is already a successful Australian Open for the American men. Two are through to the third round as of Thursday afternoon Australia time and both John Isner and Steve Johnson have advanced in convincing fashion. But it could be oh so much better.
Attempting to rank the year-end top 10 players from any country is a virtually impossible task--unless you do it in, say, something like September, October, or November. It's even more difficult in the case of the United States.
No American man has won a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick triumphed at the 2003 U.S. Open. No American man reached the fourth round of a major tournament in 2013. No American man finished 2014 in the top 15.
Only three American men advanced to the second round of the U.S. Open after two of the remaining five in the draw were eliminated on Wednesday. Unable to join John Isner, Sam Querrey, and Tim Smyczek in the last 32 were Steve Johnson and Ryan Harrison.
In 2013, American men fared historically bad at Grand Slams. Not a single one reached the fourth round of any major--not even at the U.S. Open. The jury is still out for the American contingent in Flushing Meadows this time around, but early returns are decent at best.
It's no secret that we are in the midst of a rough patch for American men's tennis--certainly on the singles front. The trials and tribulations of the United States contingent are well-documented. It has been more than a decade since an American man won a Grand Slam title (Andy Roddick at the 2003 U.S. Open).
The U.S. Open may be on the minds of players and fans like, but don't forget about this week's Winston-Salem Open. It gives the ATP World Tour stars a final opportunity for match practice heading into New York. Among those looking to take advantage are Americans John Isner, Steve Johnson, Donald Young, and Sam Querrey.
Click here to check out the draws and order of play from the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati.
John Isner reached the Western & Southern Open final last summer, but there will be no repeat performance in 2014. In fact, no American man will play for the title this time around. That much was guaranteed on Thursday, when the host nation's last two hopes in Isner and Steve Johnson both went down in third-set tiebreakers.
Roger Federer's little lapse in the second set meant that he had to spend more than two hours on the court -- hardly what he wanted after his long week in Toronto. But he survived to keep his lead on Stanislas Wawrinka in the contest for #3.
It was a surprising day of action for the American contingent at the Rogers Cup on Monday. John Isner, Tim Smyczek, and Michael Russell took the court, with only Isner (vs. Ivan Dodig) being a considerable favorite. As it turned out, however, only Isner took a loss.
Maybe we should have taken the idea of Donald Young as the American #2 more seriously. Kevin Anderson will remain below the Top Twenty, but Young moves past Sam Querrey, Jack Sock, and Steve Johnson; he is on the brink of the Top Fifty.
Wimbledon doubles champs American Jack Sock and Canadian Vasek Pospisil are scheduled to partner in the BB&T Atlanta Open doubles draw.
I got to make it down to the USTA PLAYER DEVELOPMENT WOMEN'S $50,000 CLASSIC at the Stub Hub Center in Carson yesterday. I wanted to see the second round qualifying match of one of my former students, Danielle Lao. I was a little late and they got off to a quick start and when I arrived Danielle seemed to have the situation well in hand...
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