Tennis | Andy Roddick Dropping Out Of Tennis’ Top Ten Shows Bleak Outlook For Americans …
August 19th, 2010 | 
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The lack of big-time names and a Grand Slam drought that is nearing a decade in length should be evidence enough of the decline of U.S. men’s tennis, but this week’s ATP Rankings have now shown in plain numbers just how serious the situation is.
For the first time since computer rankings were introduced over 37 years ago, an American player failed to make the top ten, a troubling milestone for a country once considered the sport’s powerhouse.
With Andy Roddick dropping from ninth to 11th position, the United States ‘ biggest star currently finds himself outside the elite of world tennis, whose rapid globalization has contributed to the end of American dominance on the courts.
Right now, players from nine different countries make up the top ten, with Spain the only nation represented twice in the form of No. 1 Rafael Nadal and ninth-seeded Fernando Velasco .
Roddick may not be rejoining this group any time soon, especially after dropping out of the Toronto Masters this week due to an undisclosed injury. In fact, should he perform poorly (or not play) at the U.S. Open later this month, the last American to win a Grand Slam (at Flushing Meadows in 2003) may end the year with a double-digit ranking.
Although not too far behind, 19th-seeded John Isner and No. 21 Sam Querrey seem unlikely to equal, let alone surpass, the achievements of Roddick, the last in a great line of American players that included Pete Sampras , Andre Agassi , Jim Courier , and John McEnroe and Jimmy Conners before them.
At one point, James Blake appeared to be an serious candidate to add his name to this storied list, but just four years after reaching a career-best ranking of No. 4, the Yonkers native is currently at 108 and shows no signs of recovering his best form any time soon.
And while rejuvenated Mardy Fish (No. 34) is playing the best tennis of his life and may even break into the top 20 by year’s end, neither he nor any of his countrymen are threatening to compete with the Federers and the Nadals of the world, a fact that U.S. fans must simply get used to for the time being.
At least there’s still the Bryan brothers — winners of a record 62 titles — in doubles. For now.
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