Across the Net: The Greatest Generation of United States Tennis
Posted by Dan Martin on 02.05.2007
Sampras, Agassi, Courier, and Chang all accomplished great things. They are all also now retired. What do each have to contribute to the sport?
Players of the Week: Marcos Baghdatis and Martina Hingis
Baghdatis of Cyprus shook off his 2nd round loss at the Australian Open and subsequent drop in the world rankings by winning a tournament in Zagreb, Coratia over world # 8 Ivan Ljubicic 7-6, 4-6, 6-4. Ljubicic has won one title, lost in the first round of the Australian Open and then been runner-up at his third tournament of the year. For a world #8, one wonders if his ranking is based on dominating smaller events and collapsing at Grand Slams.
Hingis won the Pan Pacific trophy in Tokyo by defeating Ana Ivanovic 6-4, 6-2. This victory builds on a solid quarterfinal finish at the 2007 Australian Open. If Hingis continues to play well, she may wind up in the top 4 in the world sooner rather than later.
After John McEnroe won the 1984 U.S. Open, he looked to be in complete control of the men's tennis tour. Little did anyone know that age would finally slow Jimmy Connors down and put Jimbo into a period of slow decline. Even less expected was the fact that John McEnroe would never win another Grand Slam singles title and that his runner-up finish at the 1985 U.S. Open would be his last Grand Slam final.
U.S. tennis was in trouble. Connors was still good enough to reach the quarterfinals and occasional semifinal of many Grand Slam events. Tim Mayotte and Brad Gilbert each were solid players, but never a threat for tennis' biggest prizes. Players such as Jay Berger, Aaron Krickstein, and "Dr. Dirt" Tim Wilkinson also had their moments, but U.S. tennis was not a force to be reckoned with during the late 1980's.
That was the case until 1988 saw Andre Agassi finish the year ranked 3rd in the world. Agassi broke onto the scene, but in May 1989 Michael Chang brought U.S. tennis back to the promised land of Grand Slam glory. Chang won improbable 5 set matches vs. Ivan Lendl and Stefan Edberg to become the youngest French Open champion in history.
Chang's French Open title signaled the first big breakthrough of the generation. It was followed by Pete Sampras beating Lendl, McEnroe and Agassi consecutively to become the youngest U.S. Open champion in 1990. Jim Courier did not wish to be left behind and broke through with the 1991 French Open title after beating Agassi in a 5 set classic. Agassi finally won a major after a number of near misses with his 1992 Wimbledon victory. Each of these first time grand Slam titles contributed to 27 Grand Slam titles by these four players.
The second major breakthrough was Jim Courier achieving the #1 ranking in 1992. After winning the 1992 Australian Open, Courier held the #1 ranking on and off during 1992 and managed to end the year ranked #1. Courier paved the way for Pete Sampras finishing 6 years at #1 and Andre Agassi becoming the oldest man to hold the #1 ranking.
It is odd to think that the first two guys to make big breakthroughs, Chang and Courier, were both vastly outperformed by Sampras and Agassi, but talent has a way of overcoming things.
With Agassi's retirement after the 2006 U.S. Open, one can now contemplate what these four men can contribute to the sport of tennis today. I believe all four can contribute big things to the sport of tennis especially within the U.S. I do not think that any of them should follow the path that John McEnroe has taken. Mac is omnipresent in men's tennis. He does broadcasting for various U.S. television networks and works for the BBC and Australian television from time to time. Mac at times sucks up the media attention that might be better placed on active players. He has challenged the Williams sisters to matches and tried to stage a senior tour match right before the women's final at the U.S. Open. One gets the feeling that McEnroe both loves the sport and regrets not harnessing his talent more when he was in his prime. Love him or hate him, there is only one Big Mac and Courier, Chang, Agassi and Sampras would be ill advised to try to imitate a guy who broke the mold.
Michael Chang won a number of titles in Asia during his career. Tennis is booming in China at the moment and Chang has offered to help train with the Chinese women who are improving rapidly. Chang can do many things to promote tennis in and around the Pacific Rim as well as among Asian Americans not living on the West Coast. In many ways, Chang's task is the most important because he can help tennis grow globally.
Jim Courier is already a television commentator who provides a dry sense of humor and keen insights. In many ways, his style is a nice contrast to McEnroe's more in your face commentating. Courier is also working with the U.S. Davis Cup team and has started a North American over-30 tour. Courier is a smart guy who can become a voice promoting the sport of tennis. If he can keep the North American champions tour going, he can bring tennis to cities that do not normally have big names or big tournaments. Courier's low key personality may also allow him to do what McEnroe has failed to do – get the ear of the tennis establishment in the U.S.
Pete Sampras has a a ton to contribute to tennis. Sampras always kept the media at arms length while playing. In his post-tennis life, he can reverse this by giving more interviews and sharing more of his views. Sampras is being inducted into the 2007 International Tennis Hall of Fame. He is also playing one senior event in Courier's tour. Sampras could spread the sport of tennis and raise money for charity by playing a series of exhibition matches with Courier and others. One can hope that Pete does not have a quiet retirement. Sampras' 14 Grand Slam titles and 6 years at #1 mean he does not have to do much to have people take him seriously as an ambassador of the sport. Sampras had such an appreciation of history as a player that I could see him promoting the history of the sport. He does not need to be a television commentator or Davis Cup coach. Sampras does need to promote the sport for its own sake and for the sake of his legacy.
Andre Agassi's post tennis career may not be limited to tennis. Agassi and his wife Steffi Graf give 40% of their post tax income to charity. Agassi runs a great charter school for inner-city students in Las Vegas. Agassi is looking at exporting his school system to other cities. If Agassi can get other sporting figures to buy into what he is doing, he can have a huge impact on the lives of many children. Agassi's evolution as a human being has been startling. He went from a punk to a philanthropist while being in the public eye. Agassi can do many great things and in doing so he will indirectly draw attention to tennis.
Tennis needs these four to not drift into obscurity. Tennis within the U.S. would suffer a great deal if this happened. If Chang is the ambassador, Courier the voice, Sampras the historian and Agassi the humanitarian, tennis can expect many great things from the greatest generation.
