Roddick Needs Company from U.S. Peers
During periods when men's tennis has reached its popularity peak in the United States, it has been spurred by rivalries between Ame-icans.
John McEnroe-Jimmy Connors and Andre Agassi-Pete Sampras were the most prominent ones in the past 25 years. Agassi and Sampras also were challenged by Jim Courier and Michael Chang.
Andy Roddick, 21, is waiting for his rival or rivals to arrive. Heading into this week's RCA Championships at the Indianapolis Tennis Center, defending tournament champion Roddick is ranked No. 2 on the ATP Tour.
Agassi, 34, who withdrew from the RCAs on Saturday, is rated No. 10.
The next-highest ranked U.S. player is Mardy Fish, who is No. 18. Other top young Americans are Taylor Dent (28), Robby Ginepri (36) and James Blake (44). Ginepri is 21 years old, Fish 22, Dent 23 and Blake 24.
Fish, Dent and Ginepri will join Roddick in the RCA tournament, which begins main draw play Monday. Blake withdrew Friday because of an arm injury.
"No one has really seized the moment to be No. 2 to Andy or to become his biggest competitor," NBC tennis play-by-play announcer Ted Robinson said.
Robinson said Roddick's peers have had moments when they seemed poised to take that next step.
"No one has been able to sustain that," Robinson said. "That's why we all have to appreciate Andy right now because here's a kid who is 21 and has not only skyrocketed but has stayed there.
"It would be great for the game in America if we would have one of these (other) young guys emerge."
Roddick said he understands the need for U.S. stars with so many other sporting options in America.
"It's a definite necessity for American players to be playing well to promote interest," Roddick said in a conference call last month.
Yet Roddick, who finished 2003 ranked No. 1, said he doesn't feel any additional pressure being the United States' best hope for Grand Slam titles.
"I don't really look at my tennis in those terms," he said. "I just kind of go about and do my business. I don't really let those thoughts creep into my head too much."
Roddick said Fish has begun to progress.
"I think he's been stepping up his game, playing well," he said.
Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe said Fish is talented.
"The question to me is again, is how badly does he want it," Patrick McEnroe told reporters in a Davis Cup media conference last month. "When I say that, it's how badly does he want to get to the next level. I think he's a top 10 potential player by the end of the year, but to get from No. 18 to No. 10 is a tough stretch."
McEnroe added it will take a strong drive by Fish to earn the wins needed to make that climb.
McEnroe said Ginepri's strengths are his fitness and quickness.
"He can get a little negative, a little down on himself, which can hurt him, but when he's playing well, when he's competing well, he's tough to beat," McEnroe said.
Blake has been slowed since suffering a neck injury in May. He returned in Newport, R.I., earlier this month and suffered the arm injury.
Eliot Teltscher, United States Tennis Association's director of tennis operations for the USA High Performance Program, said the group behind Roddick gives the United States a good core of players.
"I think their play has leveled off a little bit recently," Teltscher said. "They need to make the next step to doing well in the Grand Slams."
Teltscher said Fish and Dent might need more time.
"Fish and Dent are serve-and-volleyers, so they often don't develop to their full potential until they're around 24 years old," he said.
Perhaps a Roddick rival will develop from the 20-and-under set.
|
