You've been Nadaled

I was watching Monfils vs. Nadal last night when it was all put into perspective for me why Nadal is SO good when healthy. There is no player who goes harder, but demands more from the opponent than Nadal. The ball he ordinarily hits in a rally has WAY more topspin and english on it than anyone else in the game. I was watching great 20-some hit rallies between the two, and then late in the second set it happened, Monfils was simply unable to continue the effort that won him the first set. During his returns he'd sink low to the ground, but almost like an exhausted basketball player lining up during a free throw. He just wasn't willing to play the kind of tennis necessary to win. It doesn't help that Monfils appears like he'd be able to run a marathon without much trouble and you'd think by shear appearance that he's the most athletic man on tour. Nadal just crushed him physically to the point where he was steamrolled for 2.5 sets before putting up a fight late in the 4th. Nadal is SO hard to beat in a five set match because you have to hit his heavy ball constantly. He makes you run knowing that he will run any length to win the point. Nadal gets many shots back that would be outright winners on most other players. It's no wonder that his clay court record is preposterous.

I got pissed because the Bryan Bros. got knocked out of the doubles tourney as well as Nestor/ Zimonjic. The Bryan Bros. where the last American men to not fade away and get wasted on our home court. We have everyone's favorite Melanie Oudin and the obvious Williams sister's to fall back on, but no American men in the quarterfinals? Too long has Andy Roddick carried our torch with all of his effort without having ANYONE else do jack. Sam Querrey? Robby Ginepri? Donald Young? James Blake? John Isner? None of the above are capable of doing much of anything in majors, though Querrey has some kind of chance to do something. Isner can make some kind of run at Wimbledon, but will fail unless his serve is unconscious the entire time since he will almost certainly be incapable of breaking any top player. How can American men not be better at a game that Agassi and Sampras elevated to riotous heights when I was growing up? How has their greatness not inspired better players from our country? Why does the Nick Bollitieri's Academy seem to cater exclusively to Russian women? Something needs to give because American does not enjoy mediocrity in any sport besides cricket and rugby.