American Tennis Needs More Minority Players

On my blog last September I commented on how poorly the US was performing on the men's tennis circuit. It appears the problem with US tennis no longer applies to just men. For the first time in the history of the rankings system there are no American men or women in the top ten. To make matters worse there is no one on the horizon poised to take the next step. The Williams sisters are battling injuries, Andy Roddick's game is a train wreck, John Isner and Sam Querry are looking for that extra gear, and James Blake and Mardy Fish have taken their game as far as it can go. In a short span American tennis has gone from dominant to dormant. What is the solution to the problem?

In the past the US has always turned to tennis academies to replenish the talent pool. I think the current state of affairs calls for more drastic measures. It's time to bring the game to the inner city. No more using tennis courts as a skate park, a dodge ball arena, or a canvass for graffiti art, it's time to use those courts as an escape route from violence and crime. With the proper coaching, access to equipment, and exposure to the game the inner city could become the next hot bed for talent.

The country club model is broken. It's outdated, divisive, and hasn't produced top quality players in quite a while. There's no reason the top tennis players in this country can't be Asian, Hispanic, or African American. Why not extend the opportunity to everyone? The socioeconomic barriers have to be broken in order for the game to progress. If the game can break down those barriers and stereotypes everybody wins. The sport will reach a larger demographic, more people will participate, and we'll see Americans among the world's elite once again. Isn't the alternative plan worth a try?