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U.S. Men Have Already Improved From 2007

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The Associated Press

Published: May 26, 2008

PARIS - To Tampa's James Blake, 1-0 sounds a lot better than 0-9.

A year after all nine U.S. men competing at the French Open lost in the first round, Blake won his opener at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament Sunday, beating former top-10 player Rainer Schuettler 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (3).

"We've already done more," the No. 7-seeded Blake said with a laugh. "We set the bar low enough that we're over the bar by 3 o'clock on Sunday afternoon. It was a tough situation last year, but now maybe it's just like playing with house money this year."

He lost to Ivo Karlovic in four sets at Roland Garros in 2007, part of the worst showing by American men at any major tennis championship in 34 years. It also continued their recent trend of struggling on clay.

"We all feel like, you know, last year was an aberration that should never happen again," Blake said, "and this year we're definitely looking for better results."

Or as U.S. Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe confidently predicted before the tournament began: "American men are going to do better this year than last year."

Not really saying a whole lot, huh?

From 2004-07, only one man representing the United States made it as far as the third round in Paris: Blake, two years ago. That was his career-best showing in five previous visits to Roland Garros.

"I feel like I'm playing a little bit better, with a little bit more experience on the clay," said Blake, 9-6 on the slow surface in 2008. "Hopefully this will be the year I put it all together."

He is one of 10 U.S. men in the field this time, a contingent that does not include sixth-ranked Andy Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open champion who pulled out of the French Open because of a shoulder injury.

Third-seeded Novak Djokovic, No. 6 David Nalbandian and No. 10 Andy Murray advanced to the second round, but 1998 French Open champion Carlos Moya lost to Eduardo Schwank 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-7 (1), 4-6, 6-3.

In the women's draw, eight-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams beat Wesley Chapel's Ashley Harkleroad 6-2, 6-1, and last year's French Open runner-up, Ana Ivanovic, struggled before beating Sofia Arvidsson 6-2, 7-5.

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