For 23 years, it has been the world's most annoying sports trivia question: Who's the last American man to win a Grand Slam singles ****** le?
Ben Shelton has always been the one with the ability to change it.
No disrespect to any of the others who have carried the red, white and blue banner for more than two decades across the men's tennis tour since Andy Roddick won his US Open ****** le in 2003. John Isner served his way to millions of dollars and a few nice tournament wins. The likes of Mardy Fish and Sam Querrey did the best they could in the Roger Federer/Rafael Nadal/Novak Djokovic era. Taylor Fritz has worked tirelessly to improve his game and continues to be a factor among the best players in the world.
But there is no divine right for any country, even one as big and athletically successful as the USA, to produce Grand Slam champions in a global sport where only a select few are going to rise to the top. It takes everything: Talent, development, the right set of circumstances and maybe a little bit of luck.
And for Shelton, the 23-year old who was born in Atlanta, raised to be an NCAA champion in Gainesville, Fla., and unleashed onto the world stage by a meticulously patient father/coach, only one more match stands in his way of the ultimate American story.
#grand #slam #best #andy
Ben Shelton has always been the one with the ability to change it.
No disrespect to any of the others who have carried the red, white and blue banner for more than two decades across the men's tennis tour since Andy Roddick won his US Open ****** le in 2003. John Isner served his way to millions of dollars and a few nice tournament wins. The likes of Mardy Fish and Sam Querrey did the best they could in the Roger Federer/Rafael Nadal/Novak Djokovic era. Taylor Fritz has worked tirelessly to improve his game and continues to be a factor among the best players in the world.
But there is no divine right for any country, even one as big and athletically successful as the USA, to produce Grand Slam champions in a global sport where only a select few are going to rise to the top. It takes everything: Talent, development, the right set of circumstances and maybe a little bit of luck.
And for Shelton, the 23-year old who was born in Atlanta, raised to be an NCAA champion in Gainesville, Fla., and unleashed onto the world stage by a meticulously patient father/coach, only one more match stands in his way of the ultimate American story.
#grand #slam #best #andy
2 months ago
