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What has happened to American professional Men's tennis?

Catman100

Catman100

Heisman
Jan 3, 2003
6,909
10,175
96
Gone are the great days of McEnroe, Conners, Courier, Chang, Agassi, and Sampras.

Sure there is a big 4 right now that dominate most majors, but we hardly make the quarters or semis. The established guys we have out there now like Querrey, Young, Sock, and Isner barely ever make the radar as contenders. Are there any up and comers that can challenge for a major?

Come to think of it, without Serena, american womens tennis would be lacking as well.

WTF has happened to american tennis?
 
WildcatFan1982

WildcatFan1982

Heisman
Dec 4, 2011
21,375
17,682
81
One thing is that no one that is 'cool' plays tennis. When I was a kid Andre Agassi was a big deal. Andy Roddick was the last big star. Andre Agassi was a cool guy that I wanted to be like. I even bought his shoes. Andy Roddick was sorta generic. People younger than me (34) didn't really have anyone to look up to. That's mens tennis.

As for womens I have no idea. Seems every little girl would want to be as awesome as Serena.
 
UKwizard

UKwizard

Heisman
Dec 11, 2002
21,294
13,842
113
What that tells me is that it is pointless to compare pre 2000 greats to the current ones.

Agassi was a rock star tho.
 
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funKYcat75

funKYcat75

Heisman
Apr 10, 2008
32,419
41,033
112
Cattoyz said:
Tennis = Boxing. No one cares.
Click to expand...
False. When it's good, both are very interesting to watch. The lack of a men's US star kills tennis here and PPV killed boxing for my generation. Boxing is coming back though. Slowly.
 
Catman100

Catman100

Heisman
Jan 3, 2003
6,909
10,175
96
funKYcat75 said:
False. When it's good, both are very interesting to watch. The lack of a men's US star kills tennis here and PPV killed boxing for my generation. Boxing is coming back though. Slowly.
Click to expand...

Agree on both points.
 
R

Rex Kwon Do

All-American
Oct 15, 2005
7,493
5,837
83
I played tonight with my hen and oldest son :flushed:

Great article....it's a great sport and I hope it can be resurgent at some point.
 
R

Rupp'sRunt

Heisman
Apr 19, 2008
14,675
20,094
0
ukwizard said:
What that tells me is that it is pointless to compare pretty 2000 greats to the current ones.

Agassi was a rock star tho.
Click to expand...
WildcatFan1982 said:
One thing is that no one that is 'cool' plays tennis. When I was a kid Andre Agassi was a big deal. Andy Roddick was the last big star. Andre Agassi was a cool guy that I wanted to be like. I even bought his shoes. Andy Roddick was sorta generic. People younger than me (34) didn't really have anyone to look up to. That's mens tennis.

As for womens I have no idea. Seems every little girl would want to be as awesome as Serena.
Click to expand...
Agassi was a rock star then everyone realizes years later he was doing meth to keep his energy up lmao.
 
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T

TCPUKChamps

Heisman
Dec 18, 2002
38,088
22,616
62
Querrey vs Andy Murray coming up. Querrey beat djokovic at Wimbledon last year. if he can beat Murray this year and make it to the semis, that would be huge.
 
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cawoodsct

cawoodsct

Heisman
Apr 27, 2006
39,798
27,758
102
The last year an American male won a singles Slam is the same year Agassi won one. Agassi and Roddick 2003. Total disaster.
 
C

csrupp

All-American
Mar 6, 2017
3,865
7,966
113
Catman100 said:
Gone are the great days of McEnroe, Conners, Courier, Chang, Agassi, and Sampras.

Sure there is a big 4 right now that dominate most majors, but we hardly make the quarters or semis. The established guys we have out there now like Querrey, Young, Sock, and Isner barely ever make the radar as contenders. Are there any up and comers that can challenge for a major?

Come to think of it, without Serena, american womens tennis would be lacking as well.

WTF has happened to american tennis?
Click to expand...
I'm guessing viewership decrease directly correlates increase in pride parades. Target audience has a lot less time on their hands these days.
 
T

Tskware

Heisman
Jan 26, 2003
25,334
22,169
113
Same thing with womens golf, about three decent Americans, but 90% of top players are foreign, mostly from Asia.
 
P

pitinoshairplugs

Heisman
Nov 24, 2007
23,247
23,780
0
When americans are good, tennis gets viewers. WE have no good mens tennis players right now. So nobody, except the hardcore tennis fans, care. it's not complicated.

What is complicated is why we aren't good at the sport anymore...
 
cawoodsct

cawoodsct

Heisman
Apr 27, 2006
39,798
27,758
102
Tskware said:
Same thing with womens golf, about three decent Americans, but 90% of top players are foreign, mostly from Asia.
Click to expand...
Yeah, but the women golfers are actually winning majors and are promising for the future. We have had none in men's tennis for 15 years.
 
C

cole854

Heisman
Sep 11, 2012
10,156
22,638
0
goukcatsgo said:
When americans are good, tennis gets viewers. WE have no good mens tennis players right now. So nobody, except the hardcore tennis fans, care. it's not complicated.
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Nationality in tennis is irrelevant in regards to "fanship"....always has been. Has ZERO to do with only hardcore tennis fans watching.

Fed, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, Borg, Lendl, Becker, Edberg, Vilas, etc....all have/had strong fan contingents here in the USA. Same w/ the women...Graf, Martina, Seles, Gabby, Hingis, Sharapova, etc.
 
P

pitinoshairplugs

Heisman
Nov 24, 2007
23,247
23,780
0
cole854 said:
Nationality in tennis is irrelevant in regards to "fanship"....always has been. Has ZERO to do with only hardcore tennis fans watching.

Fed, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, Borg, Lendl, Becker, Edberg, Vilas, etc....all have/had strong fan contingents here in the USA. Same w/ the women...Graf, Martina, Seles, Gabby, Hingis, Sharapova, etc.
Click to expand...

In terms of tv ratings, it absolutely is. Amongst the "tennis" people the guys you listed have fans in the US. But if you want the sport to get broad viewership you have to have good american mens players. Sampras, Agassi and even Roddick drew very strong ratings when they made it to the later stages of majors. Now the majors viewership is embarrassing with no decent Americans.
 
ZakkW

ZakkW

All-Conference
May 22, 2002
4,642
4,824
113
Glad to see Quarrey put down the immensely unlikable Murray at Wimbledon.
 
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R

RacerX.ksr

Hall of Famer
Sep 17, 2004
132,592
114,515
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goukcatsgo said:
When americans are good, tennis gets viewers. WE have no good mens tennis players right now. So nobody, except the hardcore tennis fans, care. it's not complicated.

What is complicated is why we aren't good at the sport anymore...
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Tennis is so 1900's.
 
G

gamecockcat

Heisman
Oct 29, 2004
10,524
13,501
0
Moved from Houston to Denver/Boulder area in May. Amazed at how few people played tennis in Houston vs. in Colorado. I'm sure the ungodly heat and, especially, humidity in Houston has something to do with it but there are tons of USTA leagues in the Denver area. I had a hard time finding anyone that even owned a tennis racket in Houston.

While I used to play quite a bit of golf, I've given it up for tennis. It's more exercise, doesn't take as long, much less expensive and I'm a whole lot better at it than golf. After working 50+ hours every week, telling the Mrs. I'm going to go play golf, drop $75+ and spend another 6 hours away on a Saturday - wouldn't be celebrating 30 years next week, for sure.

Tennis is a great sport. Not sure why it lost so much popularity and golf ascended. Of course, now many golf clubs are hurting for members and the interest in golf seems to be waning, too. Wonder if a Tiger-like US tennis player would energize the sport again?
 
Catman100

Catman100

Heisman
Jan 3, 2003
6,909
10,175
96
Federer is just absolutely amazing. When he is on, he cannot be touched. Thought he would have more trouble with Cilic.

Oh and just saw the new Top Seed indoor tennis facility they are building off of Brannon in Lex, right across the street from the other indoor tennis facility. Although I doubt it, sure would be nice if those were the same owners just wanting a bigger facility. If not, kinda dick move.
 
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