Last year, two American juniors bound for the pro circuit — Devin Britton and Jordan Cox — played an epic three-set semifinal in the boys singles.  Cox, then 17, won 6-3, 6-7 (5), 16-14, the final set lasting 83 minutes (which in the pre-Isner/Mahut days seemed liked a long time). Cox lost in the finals (pictured with the runner-up plate here), and soon after both he and Britton, then 18 and fresh off an NCAA singles championship, turned pro.  Britton wrote a blog from Wimbledon for the USTA , and later in the summer received a U.S. Open wild card bid and played Federer in the first round.

As of today, Cox is ranked 597 in the world and Britton is 1119.   Britton, who last played a tournament in Indonesia in June, has won $6,622 in prize money this year.  Cox played a series of tournaments in South Africa  in May (losing three first round matches in a row) before heading to a tournament Japan in June.  His take for the year is $3,396.

The common wiseass sports talk radio caller might poke fun at them, but these dudes are working hard and chasing ranking points all over the globe.  The talent in men’s tennis is deep, and making it to the Grand Slams is a hard row to hoe.  Good luck out there, fellas, and hope to see you in Wimbledon some year soon.

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