2012 has been a year of up and downs for the American player’s and their fans. While, 2012 hasn’t been the best year, with Mardy Fish’s illness, and Andy Roddick’s retirement. There are still positives to build off for 2013!
John Isner Rank: 14. Seeing as Isner ended last year ranked 18, this is definitely an improvement. But, Isner does not seem to be gaining much ground on grass and clay. While he did reach a clay court final and won a grass court tournament, both of those were in the US. To really compete, he needs to be closing in on those vital Master’s 1000 tournaments in Europe. If he can do that for 2013, it would solidify his place in the top ten.
Sam Querrey Rank:22. Querrey spent 2012 getting his ranking back to normal, after an injury left him outside of the top 100 in 2011. Due to his ranking, he was unable to participate in the London Olympic games, instead he played in Los Angeles, and ended up winning. While the player field was diminished, a win added some much needed confidence. Querrey ended off his year very well with a Quarter-Final at the Master’s 1000 event in Paris, and 37-26 win-loss record. It seems that Sam has definitely refocused by playing some tough matches in 2012, most notably against Marin Cilic at Wimbledon which ultimately went in Cilic’s favor 15-17 in the fifth set. If everything goes well Querrey’s ranking will improve, and he will be able to better his career high ranking of 17.
Mardy Fish Rank:27. Fish’s ranking should come with a disclaimer beside it, seeing as Mardy has been sidelined for the majority of the season with heart problems. Nobody can really predict what will happen to Fish next season, he already announced that he will be missing the 2013 Australian Open. Seeing that Fish is 31 years old, one can only wonder how much longer he has in him.
Brian Baker Rank:61. Oh, the comeback kid. Baker spent the beginning of his season playing challengers and futures to better his ranking, seeing as he started the year ranked 456. So, to end the year at 61 is quite an improvement. And, you may be wondering how he did that? Well, he qualified into the 250 event in Nice, France where he reached the final, eventually losing to Nicolas Almagro 3-6, 2-6. But, that brought his ranking up to 123, yet he still needed to qualify into Wimbledon since ranking points are locked in long before the tournament begins. He qualified, and made it all the way to the Round of 16, losing to Philipp Kohlschreiber, 1-6, 6-7(4), 3-6. The problem is, he has not really done that much since that achievement at Wimbledon. Luckily, he no longer needed to qualify into tournaments for the rest of the season, and for next year. So, American fans can only hope that he will be able to get stronger for next year.
Ryan Harrison Rank: 69. Harrison ended his season with 23-24 win-loss ranking. Anybody familiar with Ryan Harrison’s temperament, can probably guess that he isn’t too happy with that. But, let’s take a look at the highlights of his season, and what he can look forward to next season. Harrison reached the semi-final in San Jose, where he lost to Milos Raonic, 6-7(4), 2-6. Harrison would go on to reach the round of 16 at Indian Wells which is a Master’s 1000 event, he would lose in the round of 16 to Gilles Simon, 6-7(0), 7-5, 1-6. He reached a semi-final on the grass at Eastbourne, where he would lose to the number 26 ranked Italian, Andreas Seppi, 5-7, 1-6. Then, his last highlight of the year came in Newport where he reached the semi-finals again at a grass court tournament, but lost to fellow American John Isner, 6-7(4), 3-6. The rest of Harrison’s results weren’t too stellar, but let’s not forget that he’s only 20 years old, and still has long way to go as far as game and temperament.
Michael Russell. Rank: 87. Russell has an 11-11 win-loss record for 2012. While not bad, Russell’s years on the ATP tour may soon be over as he’s 34 years old.
While 2012 certainly wasn’t a bad year in American men’s tennis, there is room for improvement seeing how last year the US has 10 player’s in the top 100. And, this year there are seven, but technically only six active players since Roddick has retired. There are definitely guys outside of the top 100 who are likely to move into the top 100 in 2013 those being Jack Sock (150), Steve Johnson (175), and Rhyne Williams (190). Also some player’s in the middle stages of their career who could have a breakout year in 2013, those being Jesse Levine (104), Tim Smyczek (128), and Ryan Sweeting (142). The only thing American fans have left to do is simply do what we do best, cheer on the home team.
