It was not so long ago when American male players knew how to win on European clay. Between 1989 and 1999, the French Open title went to the United States no less than four times; Michael Chang in 1989, Jim Courier in 1991 and 1992 and finally Andre Agassi in 1999. Even Pete Sampras who never got beyond the semi-finals here at Roland Garros won a title on clay in Rome in 1994.

That era is but a distant memory, and the current crop of American players spearheaded by Andy Roddick and James Blake don't even come close to reaching the second week, let alone picking up any silverware. This year for the first time in the Open era, no American male has progressed to the 2^nd round following the collective rout of all 9 players in round 1.

Roddick came unstuck at the hands of Igor Andreev in 4 sets and felt he had not played badly and could takes some "positives" from it, while James Blake who reached the 3^rd round last year was eliminated by the big serving giant Ivo Karlovic, also in 4 sets.

Last year no American male or female made the 2^nd week for the first time; it now falls to former champion Serena Williams, seeded 8, to ensure that that depressing statistic is not repeated. So is there any hope for American males on red clay?

Yes, if the way juniors are coached in the US changes and they trained to play on red clay and not just hard court where the emphasis is to go for quick winners. However, it would appear that it is too late for this crop that seem totally inept on the red stuff and turn up every year with little to no expectation. Roddick never seems that disappointed to lose simply because he has such little belief. His current coach Jimmy Connors, hardly a clay court specialist in his prime, never enjoyed Grand Slam success at the French but won every other major. Perhaps he can eventually instil some real enthusiasm and belief into the Roddick game to reverse his current mindset on red clay if it's not already too late. It's hard to see any American male in the next 5 to 10 years doing anything significant not just here at Roland Garros, but anywhere on the European clay court circuit.

Will the next generation of players revive some American pride here at Roland Garros, or will the men continue to compete with feet of clay?

Let's hope for the sake of American tennis that a champion will arise sometime this century that is capable to winning on clay as well as any other surface. Their embarrassing record here can hardly get any worse.

Andre Jones
Roland Garros
Paris