Every professional international sport seems to have an American athletes face in the front. Look at the London Olympics, American finished somewhere near the top of every sport. Golf has Tiger Woods, Women’s tennis has the Williams sisters, and Men’s tennis had Andy Roddick. Well it did, until the third round of the U.S. open when he called it quits.
And with that, one of the greatest American tennis players retired. “I just feel like its time, I don’t know if I’m healthy enough or committed enough to continue another year,” said Roddick in a press conference on August 31 just before the start of the U.S. Open. Roddick’s retirement announcement sent shockwaves through the world of tennis and left many fans of American tennis wondering: Who now?
Since 2003, Andy has served as the face for men’s American tennis. Climbing all the way to the number one spot and winning the U.S. Open, Roddick brought hope that America would once again dominate the world of tennis. The hope remained, but Roddick never fully delivered. He rounds off his career with twenty-nine professional titles, but only one major championship: The U.S. Open in 2003.
With Roddick gone, America looks for a new face of American tennis. With John Isner and Mardy Fish probably already reaching their peak, I believe the future of American tennis falls on the shoulders of 19-year-old Jack Sock. Born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, Sock started his professional career right out of high school. Currently ranked 243 in the ATP rankings, Sock is quickly rising and gaining some of the American spotlight. Sock advanced to the third round of the U.S. Open this year, and with Sock only in his 2nd year of his professional career, he has plenty of time to start winning.
With Roddick gone, the slot is open for the next American front man, and, from the way it looks, Jack Sock is not only the only sole plausible choice, but also the only hope that America has to dominate Men’s tennis once again.
