Elliott: Next wave of American men give U.S. tennis fans hope

Stefanos Tsitispas didn’t appear all that impressed by Jenson Brooksby after the precocious 21-year-old from Sacramento had upset him within the third spherical of the BNP Paribas Open.

“I don’t suppose there’s one thing that makes him tough to play,” mentioned Tsitsipas, ranked No. 4 on this planet, after Brooksby prevailed 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Monday.

OK, Brooksby isn’t tough. Then what makes him so troublesome to play?

“Placing balls again. That’s what makes him troublesome,” Tsitsipas mentioned. “He’s not a really explosive participant, however he’s capable of get balls again. He’s not essentially the most athletic participant as properly. He’s simply capable of learn the sport properly, play along with his tempo, play with the opponent’s tempo. He’s capable of learn the sport properly and keep constant.

“There’s nothing that he has that kills, I might say.”

That’s sufficient about what Brooksby supposedly doesn’t have. Give attention to what he has: expertise, smarts and the maturity to belong within the forefront of a modest resurgence by American male tennis gamers.

An American man gained no less than one Grand Slam singles title from 1990 by way of 2003. On 5 events in the course of the dominance of Jim Courier, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras, American males gained three of the 4 Slams singles titles in a yr. Andy Roddick’s 2003 U.S. Open championship was the final in that streak and stays the latest Slam singles title gained by an American man.

Blame it on a developmental system that couldn’t determine methods to finest determine and nurture expertise. Blame it on dropping children to different sports activities and on the remainder of the world catching up.

American girls have thrived, although. Feminine American athletes have fewer skilled sports activities choices than males, and Billie Jean King’s activism for equal pay made tennis a sport through which feminine athletes could make a very good dwelling. As well as, the success of Serena and Venus Williams and the see-it-and-be-it impact have made the expertise pool for ladies’s tennis giant and various.

However lastly, there’s motive for optimism about American males. That hopefulness is partly embodied by Brooksby, one in every of seven American males who reached the third spherical right here, essentially the most since 1994. Brooksby, who remembers accumulating autographs when visiting Indian Wells Tennis Backyard as a toddler, will face defending champion Cameron Norrie of Britain in a fourth-round match Wednesday.

“I believe for the primary time shortly you may really say American tennis on the lads’s facet may be very promising. There’s little question about that,” John Isner, an American mainstay at 36, mentioned Tuesday after he moved on with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Diego Schwartzman of Argentina.

“We actually have power in numbers within the prime 100. We now have lots of gamers within the prime 100. There’s some reputable chatter about a few of these guys arising being actually, actually good.”

Taylor Fritz of Rancho Palos Verdes, 24, outlasted Jaume Munar of Spain 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (2) on Tuesday at sun-baked Stadium 2. Fritz, a semifinalist right here final yr, superior to a fourth-round matchup with Alex DeMinaur, who eradicated American Tommy Paul on Tuesday. However Paul, 24, opened many eyes along with his upset of world No. 3 Sascha Zverev within the second spherical.

Fritz mentioned he was delighted by the play of Paul and Reilly Opelka, who beat Denis Shapovalov within the third spherical and can face Rafael Nadal on Wednesday. Opelka is the highest American man on this planet rankings, at No. 17. Fritz ranks 20^th.

“It’s superior. It’s additionally not very stunning,” Fritz mentioned. “I understand how good these guys are. It’s not bizarre to see these guys beating actually good gamers, having stable outcomes. I imply, Tommy is de facto near cracking into being seeded at Slams and stuff. Reilly is constantly beating very, superb gamers.”

Former USC standout Steve Johnson, 32, fell to Hubert Hurkacz of Poland 7-6 (7), 6-3 on Tuesday. Frances Tiafoe, who ranks thirtieth on this planet, fell to Andrey Rublev, 6-3, 6-4.

Sebastian Korda reacts after profitable a degree in opposition to Rafael Nadal on Saturday at Indian Wells Tennis Backyard.

(Mark J. Terrill / Related Press)

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Progress doesn’t at all times spring from victories. Sebastian Korda placed on a present within the second spherical by taking a 5-2 lead over Nadal within the third set earlier than the good Spaniard staged one other exceptional comeback. Korda shouldn’t really feel dangerous about not beating Nadal: Nobody else has overwhelmed him but this yr. Nadal is 17-0. “I type of proved to myself that I can play with anybody,” Korda mentioned after that loss.

Korda and Brooksby appear to have the very best likelihood to guide the following technology of American males again to tennis glory. Korda’s versatile and aggressive sport, distinguished by his punishing backhand, is a marvel. However Brooksby has gained over many followers, even when Tsitispas isn’t amongst them.

“To me, I believe you’re splitting hairs with Jenson and Sebastian,” Isner mentioned. “Sebastian has had a tricky go this yr making an attempt to shut out matches. Finally, I believe all these experiences are going to be a very good factor for him. To me, it doesn’t look like he’s panicking in any respect. His sport is there. One of the vital fluid video games I’ve seen shortly.

“I imply, him and Jenson? I don’t know. In my estimation, perhaps Sebastian has an actual, actual excessive ceiling. He simply hasn’t put it collectively this yr.”

Isner made a very good level in saying it gained’t take an American man profitable a Slam title to say American males’s tennis is again. “The bar has been set fairly low since 2003, most likely,” he mentioned. “I believe getting two guys within the prime 10 could be a very good start line, then you definitely go from there. … I do suppose getting two gamers within the prime 10 someday within the close to future may be very conceivable.”

It could actually’t occur quickly sufficient.