Compelling dynamics for the American men at this year’s U.S. Open, with Andy Roddick losing to Janko Tipsarevic (a match I thought would be tough for him when I first saw the draw) and qualifier 18-year-old Ryan Harrison upsetting No. 15 Ivan Ljubicic, a wily veteran and no easy win for Harrison.  After a strong spring, it has been a very tough summer for Roddick, and he is now in desperate danger of falling out of the top ten for the year.   At 28, it will be no easy feat for him to get back near the top.  On the other hand, this could be the watershed for Harrison, a decade younger than Roddick.

Despite Roddick’s early departure, there are several Americans left who can go deep in New York, with Harrison as a new favorite, but also Mardy Fish, already into the third round.  John Isner and Sam Querrey also moved on yesterday, and Isner looked good coming off a recent ankle injury.  Hoping to see one or two of them left come Super Saturday, and after studying the draw, my money is Isner and maybe Fish reaching the semis.  Querrey also has a chance.  As much as I’d like to see Harrison, I doubt he has much of a chance to move past Nadal if he reaches the fourth round.   And don’t forget James Blake, at 30, making perhaps his last run, but Djokovic looms as his third round opponent.

Ryan Harrison

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