Americans in Paris... At Roland Garros
No American has won the singles title at the French Open since Serena Williams in 2002. Andre Agassi was the last American male to win at Roland Garros in 1999 and no American has even reached the quarters since 2003 when Agassi did. In addition to Agassi, there have
been other American winners on the red clay at Roland Garros through the years including Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Jennifer Capriati, Michael Chang and Jim Courier.
Nonetheless, it has been “slim pickins” for many years. In 2009, eleven Americans lost in the first round and all in all American tennis players only won twelve matches at the French Open. i.e. Serena Williams (4), Andy Roddick (3), Venus Williams (2), Jill Craybas, Alexa Glatch and Robert Kendrick (1 each). In 2010, there are twenty Americans in the singles main draws, i.e. Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Melanie Oudin, Vania King, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Jill Craybas, Varvara Lepchenko, Shenay Perry, Christina McHale, Andy Roddick, John Isner, Sam Querrey, Michael Russell, Taylor Dent, Robby Ginepri, Mardy Fish, Rajeev Ram, Ryan Sweeting, Jesse Witten and Michael Yani. As of May 31st, the Americans have won nineteen singles matches and Serena Williams is the last American singles player still standing. Serena faces Australian Samantha Stosur in the quarterfinals on Wednesday (Stosur beat Justine Henin in the round of 16). Robby Ginepri was the last man in the draw and he lost to Novak Djokovic on Monday in the round of 16.
With the newly-installed clay tennis courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, and a new emphasis in the United States on teaching juniors to play on clay, there is the possibility that these numbers will improve in a few years. John McEnroe has also recently announced plans to open a tennis academy in New York City. However, given the breadth of professional tennis these days as seen by the 2010 French Open Country Tally, it seems more likely than the U.S. dominance of the sport is waning as professional tennis grows in popularity around the world while competing for kids’ attention in the United States with so many other sports and entertainment options.
Nonetheless, it has been “slim pickins” for many years. In 2009, eleven Americans lost in the first round and all in all American tennis players only won twelve matches at the French Open. i.e. Serena Williams (4), Andy Roddick (3), Venus Williams (2), Jill Craybas, Alexa Glatch and Robert Kendrick (1 each). In 2010, there are twenty Americans in the singles main draws, i.e. Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Melanie Oudin, Vania King, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Jill Craybas, Varvara Lepchenko, Shenay Perry, Christina McHale, Andy Roddick, John Isner, Sam Querrey, Michael Russell, Taylor Dent, Robby Ginepri, Mardy Fish, Rajeev Ram, Ryan Sweeting, Jesse Witten and Michael Yani. As of May 31st, the Americans have won nineteen singles matches and Serena Williams is the last American singles player still standing. Serena faces Australian Samantha Stosur in the quarterfinals on Wednesday (Stosur beat Justine Henin in the round of 16). Robby Ginepri was the last man in the draw and he lost to Novak Djokovic on Monday in the round of 16.
With the newly-installed clay tennis courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, and a new emphasis in the United States on teaching juniors to play on clay, there is the possibility that these numbers will improve in a few years. John McEnroe has also recently announced plans to open a tennis academy in New York City. However, given the breadth of professional tennis these days as seen by the 2010 French Open Country Tally, it seems more likely than the U.S. dominance of the sport is waning as professional tennis grows in popularity around the world while competing for kids’ attention in the United States with so many other sports and entertainment options.
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