All champions are not created equal.
When you think of American men’s tennis, images of Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, or Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe, come to mind.
Arthur Ashe’s name still reverberates, but louder for his off-court impact than his three Grand Slam titles. If Michael Chang is mentioned, it’s nearly guaranteed to be about his exploits as a 17-year-old in Paris. Even multi-time Grand Slam winners of the Open Era, including Stan Smith and Jim Courier, are given short shrift.
Andy Roddick spent years carrying the flag for this country, reached No. 1 in the world and claimed the 2003 U.S. Open title, but he was largely considered a disappointment for being unable to continue the momentum of the country’s greatest generation, losing in four Grand Slam finals — all to Roger Federer in his prime — and five Grand Slam semifinals.
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