OT: US Open Men

Submitted by uncle leo on

Anyone been paying attention? Absolutely dying for the Americans to do SOMETHING in a grand slam.

Sock just rolled through Cilic to get to the round of 16. Ryan Harrison is in the 4th with Baghdatis. Still have Isner (who will likely get rolled by Djokovic if he wins), and Jared Donaldson who has a super favorable draw. 

Looks like Sock has some mojo going. Ryan Harrison, if he can survive today has a decent path forward.

NittanyFan

September 2nd, 2016 at 3:49 PM ^

Cilic had just won Cincinnati (beating Andy Murray there), which was a big deal --- then Sock beats him in straight sets today.

Ultimately Novak likely takes out Isner AND Sock --- but it will be nice simply to get one American male through to the quarters!  It's certainly been awhile: I think Andy Roddick was the last to do that?!?

Looks like Baghdatis is through to the Round of 16.

NittanyFan

September 2nd, 2016 at 4:07 PM ^

I thought he lost to Rancic in the 4th Round, right after the Novak upset.  But that didn't make sense after I thought about it, two seeds that high wouldn't play each other that early.

That 2009 Final was awesome, fun to watch.

LJ

September 2nd, 2016 at 3:51 PM ^

If Sock can ever shore up that backhand, he has top 5 potential.  He's a better mover than most recent Americans and that forehand is a legit weapon.

Taylor Fritz looks like the real deal to me, too.  This generation of Americans should be better, though I think developing junior players on hard courts is a major disadvantage in modern tennis.

uncle leo

September 2nd, 2016 at 3:54 PM ^

Tiafoe take out Isner. Isner has a tiny ceiling because he can't move. At least the kid would have done potentially SOMETHING.

Sock also needs to slim down a little. And he has to quit playing doubles if he ever wants to be an elite singles player. 

I like Fritz, Donaldson looks pretty good as well. I think Harrison, despite winning a couple of matches in this tournament is a lost cause. Steve Johnson is solid. 

LJ

September 2nd, 2016 at 4:14 PM ^

Yeah, too early to say on Tiafoe, but his mechanics seem a little wonky to me.  Less of a sure thing than Fritz, I think.  Harrison has never impressed me, and Johnson is probably at his peak; his backhand is such a liability I can't see him ever reaching the top 10 or winning a slam.

MichiganHSSP14

September 2nd, 2016 at 4:37 PM ^

It's great to see this crew of young players coming up. I believe the U.S. now has the most teenagers in the top 200. The fact that Donaldson trained in Argentina for a few years to develop on clay shows the exact problem that the USTA has had in recent years. Hopefully that will change with the new facility in Florida with over 100 courts, including red clay and Har-tru green clay.




Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

uncle leo

September 2nd, 2016 at 4:26 PM ^

His SECOND walkover in three matches. Come the flip on. He's played one full match and he's in the round of 16.

Isner's toast if he gets through. Djokovic hasn't even played barely a full game yet.

tjohn7

September 2nd, 2016 at 4:49 PM ^

Was out in Flushing Monday and Tuesday.  Got to see Stevie Johnson come back (only to get steamrolled by Del Potro yesterday).  Gotta hope Tiafoe can put it all together and become the next great American for the future.  Sick of watching Isner's one dimensional game.