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Leagues and Governing Bodies

Young Americans In Australian Open Field Signal Promising Times Ahead For U.S. Tennis

Seven U.S. men 20 or younger made it into the 128-player main draw for the Australian Open, which began this week, representing a "particularly promising" generation "on the rise" for U.S. Tennis, according to Christopher Clarey of the N.Y. TIMES. The last time the U.S. had that many 20-or-younger players in a major was the '06 U.S. Open, and at this week's tournament the country has "more men competing in singles (14) than any other nation." The U.S. women also "led the way with 18 representatives, and the country could have had" three more if not for withdrawls due to injury. For now, young American players are "taking a collective, mutually supportive approach," one the USTA is "encouraging under" its new GM of Player Development Martin Blackman. Many of the U.S. players "feel as if they have grown up together," as they have "often roomed together at the USTA’s former player development complex in Boca Raton." Nineteen-year-old Reilly Opelka and others are now "training together at the new USTA National Campus in Orlando." Twenty three-year-old Bjorn Fratangelo said, "It’s really changed the perspective for the players; we do feel as if we’re a small team." Nine American men among all ages have "reached the second round, the most at the Australian Open" since '08 (N.Y. TIMES, 1/18).

YOUNG AMERICAN: ESPN's Patrick McEnroe, who preceded Blackman, said of when he was hired in '08, "I said it would be eight to 10 years before we saw the progress at this level." McEnroe: "Our goal was to produce some good players, top-100 players, players who could get direct entry into the main draws of Slams. I think you're seeing those good players coming through now. I think a couple of them might develop into top players." ESPN.com's Greg Garber noted in the late '80s, there was a "competitive group of Americans who grew up in Florida and drove each other to great heights." Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and Michael Chang would all "go on to win Grand Slams and collect a total of 27 major titles." While no one is "suggesting this group has that kind of potential, there is a certain strength in numbers." Garber: "Quantity, for the moment, prevails over quality" (ESPN.com, 1/17). 

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