Andy Roddick. It almost seems as though he is known more for his good looks and his interesting public reactions as opposed to his tennis playing skills. Number 8, Roddick lost to to Swiss player, Stanislas Wawrinka, No. 19, in three sets in the Australian Open. Wawrinka crushed Roddick in a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 display of complete dominance.
Roddick won two titles last season at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Sony Ericsson Open, beating #6 Tomas Berdych, and the ATP Brisbane International tournament, beating #66 Radek Stepanekt. But over the last few years, Roddick has not had superb seasons by any means and it appears as though he is off to the same, disappointing start this season.
Roddick’s loss in the Australian Open means that there will be no Americans, men or women, in the quarterfinal this year. Reigning women's singles champ Serena Williams and doubles champs Serena and Venus Williams are both out, as well. Venus was out even before the third round was over with an injured hip muscle and Serena did not enter the tournament at all because of her rehabilitation for a foot injury.
No American man has won a major since Roddick's U.S. Open victory in 2003. What is happening to the pool of American tennis players? Every year I feel like it dwindles down more and more. What is going to happen when Roddick realizes he is good but just not good enough in stressful, determining situations? What is going to happen when the Williams sisters' bodies decide that they just can't take any more? Is the United States not going to be recognized in these international tournaments after that point?
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