Why are the europeans such bosses?

Question

What are they doing that the Americans can't do? Is it their drive to succeed, natural talents, more access to courts, what?

Example: Marat Safin and Andy Roddick. Safin lost very early in the French Open, came to Wimbledon while the French was going on, and began practicing hard. And now, he's getting the results to show his hard work and dedication: a win over world no.3 Novak Djokovic.

Then there's Andy Roddick. He didn't even participate in the French Open and was practicing in Wimbledon while the French was going on also. However, his hard work equalled a loss to world no.40 Janko Tipsarevic.

What do the Europeans have that the Americans don't?

Answer 1

You need more data points than Safin and Roddick.  Safin is the most inconsistent player on the Tour.  He's capable of beating (and losing) to any player on any given day.  Wait for a couple rounds before you start praising him.

Roddick ran into a tough opponent today.  It could've easily gone the other way.  He played the same guy that was a few shots away from beating Federer at the Australian Open this year.

Europeans don't have anything that Americans don't have.  They've just got some talented players right now, and America will certainly have a rising star sometime in the near future as well.   You can count on it.

Besides, not all of Europe is awesome in tennis right now.  Sweden used to have great tennis players, and now I can't think of anyone great.  Murray aside, tennis in the UK is a complete joke.  Has Italy EVER had a great player?

Answer 2

that is the nature of pro sports. nothing to do with been european or american. all pros have to deal with the ups and downs, success and disappointment. american used to have greats that other countries wish they have such as sampras, agassi, williams, etc. there are good days and bad days, all part of pro athletes life.

Answer 3

a queen and a royal family

Answer 4

It is none of the reasons you stated (drive to succeed, natural talent, more access to courts. Success in the sport is not driven by nationality at all. There was no swiss man worthy of any tennis conversation till Federer stormed into the scene. Same for the Serbians till Nole.  American tennis dominated the sport for a long time when Sampras, Agassi, Courier and Chang were at their best. And it certainly looked bright with Roddick and Blake though that has faded. It's just the Europeans' time right now and probably for the next 3-5 years from the looks of it with the big 3, Murray, Gasquet and Gulbis. It just depends on the crop of players with the greatest talent and mental fortitude for that given time period. That's my opinion.

Answer 5

The support and the drive? I don't know...maybe a stonger sense of motivation. There's so many things I can't even think of them all. lol

Answer 6

If you're using Safin as the prime example of European superiority in tennis, then you probably aren't looking at his results from the rest of this year, or last year, or even the year before that.  Safin's win over Djokovic was his best win in a LONG long time, whereas Roddick is coming off a shoulder injury, which is the reason why he didn't play the French Open.  I'm not saying that's why he lost to Tipsarevic, but you can't just use these two players, Safin and Roddick, in these two matches as your example to compare the state of European and American tennis these days.  Roddick actually has had a fairly decent season up until today, with wins over Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer earlier this year.  To answer your question as to why Europeans are having more success than Americans lately, you have to take into consideration that the most recent era of American tennis, that of Sampras, Agassi, Courier, Chang, etc., was a bit of an anomaly.  Rarely have we seen one country produce so many champions all at the same time.  It's a little unfair to compare the current group of American players to that or any other group.  And yes, a lot of it has to do with motivation, or lack there of, as well as the fact that tennis has become more of a global sport, much in the same way that basketball has too.  It's no longer a given the U.S. is going to win in international basketball, just like it's no longer a given that American tennis players are going to dominate.  But the U.S. did manage to win the Davis Cup last year, and still have two players in the top 10 in both the ATP and WTA, not to mention the top ranked men's doubles team in the world.