Wimbledon's American golden age of Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe looked like ancient history on Friday when the unknown Bobby Reynolds retreated to the shadows.
His 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 third round defeat to Spain’s Feliciano Lopez meant all 11 men from the US who started in the main draw at this year’s Wimbledon had been knocked out.
The dismal performance comes a year after America’s worst French Open for their men’s players.
Reynolds, the world No. 102, was the only one to make the third round after traditional annual hope Andy Roddick, the runner-up here in 2004 and 2005, was knocked out in the second round by Janko Tipsarevic.
“Andy usually does really well here, but obviously you’ve got to tip your hat to Tipsarevic. He played really well,” the 25-year-old Reynolds said. “Back with Agassi and Sampras, they were unbelievable players. I think that certainly obviously around the world tennis is a huge sport and maybe not No. 1 over in the States.”
Like many others throughout the world, US tennis has to punch its weight in a crowded market and it has been looking increasingly like a featherweight in recent times, despite the high of a Davis Cup win last year.
“The No. 1 sport around the world is obviously soccer — Europe, South America, everywhere else. Whereas in the States you have basketball, baseball, football, tennis, golf,” Reynolds said. “I mean, you have so many avenues that people can try out.”
The US has not celebrated a Grand Slam men’s singles champion since Roddick lifted the US Open in 2003.
“I think the US Open is our best chance, but then you’re going up against Roger [Federer] and Rafael [Nadal], who will go down as some of the greatest players to play,” Reynolds said. “It’s tough with those guys and how well they’re playing.”
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