Sam Querrey, American Men's Tennis Fall Short ... Again

NEW YORK -- Sam Querrey said he was bummed. Yes, bummed. He kept saying it. Nothing wrong with that word, really, I know. But maybe we could get just a little more from him?

After all, he had just failed in a defining moment. The U.S. Open. The notorious fifth set, which can expose, torment, torture a player. A very good, but also beatable opponent, Stanislas Wawrinka, the kind of guy the next American star needed to beat here and now.

Querrey, a 22-year old, has yet to make a mark in an important moment. He was one win from reaching the quarterfinals. He also was the last American man standing in this Open.

And then ...

This giant of a man allowed himself to be bullied on his own serve. Querrey lost 7-6, 6-7, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.

The quarterfinals are here and the Americans are gone. And Querrey?

Bummed.

"You know,'' he said, "tried my best.''

How about embarrassed? Irritated? Guess how many fingers it takes to count the number of times American men reached the quarterfinals of a major this year.

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One. And I'm not saying which finger.

Andy Roddick reached the quarters of the Australian Open.

It gets a little embarrassing every year, as Americans survive the first couple of days, then proudly laugh at all those who say American men's tennis is dead.

Then the second week comes along, and they pack their bags.

"The average sports fan watches the Grand Slams and they watch on Saturday and Sunday, and the semis and the finals. That's what we need to do. We need to get some guys there."
-- Sam Querrey "Four guys in the top 20 is pretty good, you know,'' said Querrey, talking about Roddick, who hovers around No. 10, and Querrey, John Isner and Mardy Fish, who clump up around No. 20. "But at the same time, the average sports fan watches the Grand Slams and they watch on Saturday and Sunday, and the semis and the finals. That's what we need to do. We need to get some guys there.''

Usually, you wait for the end of a tournament to look back and see what it meant. Well, for the Americans, this is the end. It's Tuesday.

What happened at the Open was a passing of the torch, actually. The next generation has passed Roddick and James Blake.

Querrey is now the best American player with the best immediate future. But he has issues, too.

Fish is a nice story about a guy who grew up and got in shape mentally and physically. But he's 28. He's not the future. He's not going to win a major.

Isner has the great serve and forehand, and the incredible courage to never give up. But I don't think his body has recovered from the Wimbledon marathon, and it's still a question as to when it will. His backhand and lack of athleticism figure to keep him from reaching the very top.

Ryan Harrison, the 18-year old, made a mark by beating Ivan Ljubicic, and then nearly winning again, creating the buzz on the Grandstand stadium with a fifth-set tiebreaker, which he had, then lost. He choked, part of the learning curve. He has the air of someone who will be good, but we'll see.

Meanwhile, Patrick McEnroe of the United States Tennis Association quit his job as Davis Cup captain to focus more on his role as head of player development. Problem with that: he hasn't developed one player yet, and it's uncertain whether he knows how.

The best news for American men was Querrey's straight-set beatdown of 16th ranked Nicolas Almagro in the third round.

For the first time, Querrey looked like a man on court. Usually, he has the appearance of some kid with a lot of talent coming to tryouts for his high school team.

That was not a knock on his talent, just his demeanor.

Against Almagro, Querrey used his size and presence to intimidate.

Finally.

He is 6-foot-6 and can crush his serve. He has dramatically improved his footwork, taking it from terrible to good. He can comfortably hit groundstrokes from both sides.

He has all the tools.

And he's the only American I can say that about, though Harrison might be soon to follow.

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U.S. Open 2010

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 07: Sam Querrey of the United States celebrates after a point against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland during his men's singles fourth round match on day nine of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 7, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sam Querrey

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Fernando Verdasco, of Spain, serves to David Ferrer, of Spain, during a fourth-round match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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David Ferrer, of Spain, returns a shot to Fernando Verdasco, of Spain, during a fourth-round match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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Fernando Verdasco, of Spain, reacts during a fourth-round match against David Ferrer, of Spain, at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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Samantha Stosur, of Australia, reacts during her quarterfinal match against Kim Clijsters, of Belgium, at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 07: (L-R) Hall of Famers Frank Robinson and Hank Aaron attend the women's singles match between Samantha Stosur of Australia and Kim Clijsters of Belgium during day nine of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 7, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Hank Aaron;Frank Robinson

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Samantha Stosur, of Australia, reacts during a quarterfinal against Kim Clijsters, of Belgium, at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 07: Kim Clijsters of Belgium reacts after she broke serve against Samantha Stosur of Australia in the second set during day nine of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 7, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kim Clijsters

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Former baseball players Frank Robinson, left, and Hank Aaron chat during the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

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Samantha Stosur, of Australia, returns a shot to Kim Clijsters, of Belgium, during a quarterfinal match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 07: Kim Clijsters of Belgium reacts against Samantha Stosur of Australia during day nine of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 7, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kim Clijsters

US Open Photos

But in Querrey's case, it's frustrating to watch such a big man play so small sometimes, staying 10 feet behind the baseline and counterpunching, even when there is a chance to attack.

Does Querrey lack the fire? Or is it there, inside of him, hidden? Anyone who saw him at the French Open this year will never forget how he just gave up, saying he was "tanking'' points and wanted to go home.

Does any champion ever feel that way at a major?

First time I met him, I told him about watching him moping around on court, fighting the urge to boo him.

"Body language,'' he said.

He knew. He was working on it.

His demeanor has improved, but doesn't inspire. He has learned how to flatten out his forehand and crush it at times.

He is improving. But maybe he's too much of a Southern California dude.

"I was trying to stay calm and relaxed,'' he said after Tuesday's match, "and not waste any unnecessary energy on emotions.''

Maybe it's a strategy for him.

And he's going to be who he is, anyway. You can't add fire. He doesn't have to play to the crowd the way Jimmy Connors did. He doesn't have to be a jerk to linespeople, the way Roddick, always hyper, can be.

But the passion has to be there somewhere.

Querrey had his chance to take the next step Tuesday, and didn't do it. It was there for him. Meanwhile, the American men have all gone home, while the Spaniards fight it out with Roger Federer for the U.S. Open title.

For Americans, it was the same old story: what a bummer.

E-mail me at gregcouch09@aol.com; Follow me on Twitter @gregcouch