Abandoned in the midst of the most unforgiving tournament on earth –-- the clay court skills of the American players will be put to the test as they attempt to prove that their enthusiasm and passion for the game is enough to distinguish them worthy competitors on the treacherous red clay of Roland Garros.
So far the players have already surpassed last year's effort, where all nine American men entered in the singles draw were KO'd in the first round. Round 2 of 2008 shows five men still standing strong, while five others have been cast away and left in the dust by stronger opponents.
It's survival of the fittest in the rawest form imaginable – even leading some to vote off one of their own (Robby Ginepri d. Donald Young).
Better than facing Tribal Council (or American fans)!
Who will prevail to become the Last American Survivor?
Not in Paris: Andy Roddick, withdrew due to a shoulder injury.
Andy Roddick
Au Revoir!
DEFEATED - 2nd Round! Lost to Latvia's Ernests Gulbis 6-7, 6-3, 5-7, 3-6.
SURVIVOR!
1st round, d. Rainer Schuettler of Germany in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1, 7-6(7-3). Probably our best hope of any clay court success, Blake has the whole nation riding on his shoulders! No sweat, that's how he took the US to a Davis Cup championship last year.
Au Revoir!
DEFEATED - 2nd Round! Lost to Australia's Lleyton Hewitt 4-6, 3-6, 2-6.
SURVIVOR!
Beat Argentina's Agustin Calleri in the 1st round, 6-7(6-8), 6-4, 6-2, 6-4
Fish hasn’t had great success at Slams, best was a QF appearance at the 2007 Australian Open where he was d. by his best friend, Andy Roddick. But he does have a career-high win over world number 1 Roger Federer this past March in Indian Wells – and a new “Deal or No Deal” fiancé to impress (Good deal for the U.S.!).
Au Revoir but still the Last American SURVIVOR!
R4: Lost to Chile's Fernando Gonzalez, 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-1. Ginepri is the only American to reach the 4th round at Roland Garros since Andre Agassi in 2003!
R2: Defeated number 27 seed Russian Igor Andreev, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(7-5), 6-2.
R1: It took four sets to conquer fellow American Donald Young, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(7-4), 6-2 in the 1st round. He's ranked a little lower than Young, but he's got that Grand Slam experience and that Ginepri attitude!
Au Revoir!
DEFEATED - 2nd Round! Lost to Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti, 5-7, 4-6, 7-5, 5-7.
SURVIVOR!
Careful with those natives – Reynolds beat Frenchman Thierry Ascione on his own turf 7-6(7-2), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Not bad for a first-time French Open singles draw appearance.
Au Revoir! (Great run!!)
DEFEATED-R3: Lost to world number 3 Serbia's Novak Djokovic, 5-7, 4-6, 2-6.
R2: Defeated Hyung-Taik Lee, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
R1: The U.S. wild-card tournament winner defeated the 29th seed and all around talented player Argentinean Guillermo Canas, 7-6(8-6), 7-6(7-3), 7-6(10-8) in the 1st round. A very impressive effort and the Cinderella story of the Slam so far – but still – my advice to Odesnik: think twice before comparing yourself to clay court king Rafa Nadal – that’s some bad French Open mojo you’re kicking up!
Au Revoir!
DEFEATED – 1st Round!
Lost to France's Julien Benneteau 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 3-6. It took five sets but Spadea still came up with an unlucky 13th French Open.
Au Revoir!
DEFEATED – 1st Round By compatriot Robby Ginepri (see above).
There’s something not right about being ousted at your first French Open by a fellow American.
Au Revoir!
DEFEATED – 1st Round.
The 21 year-old qualifier from Atlanta, Georgia, lost his 1st round match to Peru's Luis Horna 4-6, 7-5, 3-6, 0-6. Too bad fellow Atlanta resident Robby Ginepri couldn’t give his some pointers.
Au Revoir!
DEFEATED – 1st Round.
Our first favorite tall-boy, his 6’6” didn’t help much as he was slided out by world number 1 and first seed Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. Simply a case of bad luck of the draw for the quickly rising 20 year-old American who just recently made it to the QF in Monte Carlo.
Au Revoir!
DEFEATED – 1st Round.
Our second favorite tall-boy at 6’9”, took Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina to five sets but eventually lost, 6-2, 6-3, 5-7, 3-6, 4-6
This is the first French Open for Isner, who exploded onto the Tour this past summer when as a wildcard entry he made a bee line to the final defeating Tim Henman, Benjamin Becker, Wayne Odesnick, Tommy Haas and Gael Monfils before losing to champion Andy Roddick.
