The US teams in most sports are dominant, as was witnessed in last year’s Olympics. In a weird political year, it was clear that Americans had something and someone to cheer about. However, on the pro circuit, in those outdoor solo sports, America has slipped in the rankings in recent years. And tennis has shown a weakness to the world that America hasn’t quite dealt with, nor has it been able to sustain the careers of many of its top athletes. So, as we enter the US Open, it was timely to see today’s editorial, and past stories on the subject, about the state of America’s tennis game. Writer Adam Dub steps out to criticize the system for it’s lack of investment.

We’re not really cultivating players in college anymore as either tennis programs are being cut or increasingly dominated by foreigners, just like our best tennis academies in Florida have been for years now. Where’s the incentive to join the tennis ranks if the sports has a lesser perceived scholarship value and importance on campus? There’s a welcome mat to come train in the U.S. in the best facilities, climate, and under the finest instruction, and dominate the sport under another flag. Without a couple legitimate American stars, who is there to emulate and aspire to follow in the footsteps of? Every sport needs it handoff. Michael to Kobe to Lebron; Montana to Young to Manning; McEnroe and Connors to Sampras and Agassi to____?

Of course his suggestions wind up being mostly absurd in their humor, at the heart of his message is that the sport in the US has reached a transition. It seems obvious to me that there is a strong young generation coming into its own, and that Serbia won’t dominate forever. Just as in gymnastics, when Romania had seemed to crack the genetic code, tennis will be reaffirmed as an American standard of athleticism. However, I do like Dub’s idea of the senior’s tour, especially if they have to rock the vintage gear.