Good friends and doubles partners John Isner and Sam Querrey meet tomorrow in the biggest final of their careers at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis. But aside from the winner breaking into the top 20 for the first time, fans may look back on this match as being the beginning of the next era in U.S Men’s Tennis.
Back in 2002, James Blake and Andy Roddick met in the Memphis final. Roddick won that in three sets and soon went onto become No.1 in the world and eventually win the U.S. Open. Now eight years later, Roddick is still in the top 10 but met Blake, now ranked 55, in the first round of the event.
In an earlier post, I wrote that I wasn’t sure if Isner or Querrey were quite ready to take over from Andy Roddick as the No. 1 U.S. Men’s player. However, despite a nice run last summer by Querrey, it’s been Isner who has really improved since being mired in the top 100 last year. With his first title win in Auckland along with beating Gael Monfils on his way to the fourth round of the Australian Open, Isner’s game is at another level now while Querrey, though still in good form, still seems to lack that big shot, aside from his serve, that he needs to move up.
Isner’s net play is a lot better than it used to be and I actually think he has better hands and is more natural at net than Roddick. This gives Isner, aside from his huge serve, another weapon that will serve him well this year at Wimbledon and on the hard courts.
Despite all this, both players have yet to beat a top five player and in terms of recognition by casual tennis fans, Isner and Querrey still need more face time although now being the lead singles players for the U.S. Davis Cup team will help. Roddick will still dominate the headlines, especially if he isn’t able to win another Slam and all the handwringing that could bring. That will just add even more pressure on Isner and Querrey to preserve, or some could even say, save the prestige that is U.S. Men’s Tennis.
Even if Isner loses tomorrow, I still see him getting into the top 15 or so by French Open time. And Querrey is certainly consistent enough to stay in the top 20 for awhile. It’s too soon to tell if either man will breakthrough like Juan Martin Del Potro did last year and Marin Cilic is doing this year, but don’t be surprised if after 2010 is done, we look back on this match at Memphis as the start of the next chapter in U.S Men’s Tennis.
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