Wimbledon Update: Pfffft! Go U.S. Men, Maria Sharapova

Pfffft! That's the sound of American men's tennis going up in a final, feeble puff of smoke. It's also the sound of Maria Sharapova's relevance to tennis.

Wait until we get to the grass was all the American men could say after their 0-for performance on the terre batu of Paris at the French Open. Well, it's the second week of Wimbledon and only Andy Roddick is left to rep the world's #9 James Blake went down feebly to Juan

Carlos Ferrero in the 3^rd round. Mardy Fish was weak in his first round effort against Rafael Nadal. Robbie Ginepri folded against Fernando Gonzalez, and alleged rising star Sam Querry basically disappeared.

American men's tennis is on the decline and more trouble is on the winds as there are no young talented players appearing on the horizon. The powers that be in the United States Tennis Association hem and haw and hand-wring, but they seem comfortable with Roddick carrying the torch into the inevitable butt-kicking he faces against Roger Federer. And the sad thing is, beyond A-Rod, we don't even seem to care.

Now to Maria. The fist-pumping and "Vamos" screaming after routine points and the "oh my god, did I just win that match" fake surprise after 6-2, 6-4 second and third round wins has made her a near-pariah to her peers. The act plays nowhere but in the minds of fans that have no understanding of the game and a weak-willed, fawning television and print press.

Rarely are the gross inadequacies in her game discussed; her lack of athleticism, the technically-weak forehand, the weak second serve, the lack of variety in her game. Sure she can power her way to early round wins but a one-trick pony is always exposed in this game of tennis. And as the pressure mounts in later rounds we now see the real Sharapova: hit harder and harder and pray the opponent doesn't change speeds or spins.

This was never more evident in the 6-1, 6-3 fourth-round butt-kicking she absorbed toady at the able racket of Venus Williams. Williams dominated Sharapova from the outset. Williams crushed Sharapova's second serve offerings. Williams ran exposed Sharapova's lack of athleticism with deep baseline shots into the corners.

What Sharapova does have over her opponents is stubbornness close to hate for her opponents which works against everyone other than the Williams sisters and Justine Henin.

But then again, that makes Maria no better than the fourth-best player in the world. That's a great place to be for most players. But not for someone who is supposed to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Not for someone whose face is ubiquitous on billboards and televisions commercials worldwide. Not for someone who has molder image to say, I am the best there is," when, in fact she is no better then fourth-best.

Maria, like the American men, can now employ a new battle cry: wait until the hardcourt season!