Serena Williams: Wimbledon Champ Represents USA's Best Hope for Tennis Gold

U.S. Tennis is not what it used to be and it hasn't been that way in a while. Gone are the days of Connors, McEnroe, Sampras and Agassi winning golds. Gone is the era when Venus and Serena dominated the women's tennis universe.  

Sure Venus and Serena will both be back in the Olympics, but with the exception of Serena's recent Wimbledon title, neither of them has won a singles crown in quite some time. In doubles, they could still be a force to be reckoned with but all of that is dependent on Venus' durability and Serena's serve. There are young stars coming up, but they are still years away from winning major titles.

On the men's side, the present is bleak and there really is no other way to put it. Andy Roddick, once thought to be a major contender with the likely possibility of multiple grand slam titles, has a hard tie just making it to the quarterfinals these days. Mardy Fish has been good but derailed because injuries and John Isner, America's next great hope has not been consistent enough to challenge for a major crown.

The prospects aren't great but with enough players in the top 50, the U.S. has once again managed to qualify the maximum amount of participants in the Olympics with four on the men's side, four on the women's side, four total doubles teams and the potential for a mixed doubles squad.

At the hallowed grounds of Wimbledon, once again will players like Venus and Roddick step to the courts in what could be one of the final times doing so in their career. The medal hopeful in Isner will look to finally put together five rounds of mistake free tennis. The young guns will get experience as in a few years, they will likely be back.

Previewing all of the eight U.S. singles competitors shows the representation of past, present and future. Although most of them won't make it past the first few rounds, there are a few contenders that could play spoiler and perhaps even string together some surprises.

Led by Serena Williams, the undoubted best chance for a U.S. singles medal, in no particular order, here are how the eight Olympians stack up in terms of their chances at a medal.

Andy Roddick

It's hard not to feel for a guy like Andy Roddick.

In 2003, he was just 21 years old when he hoisted the U.S. Open trophy. Coming shortly after the retirements of all time tennis greats in Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, Roddick's win was more than just a major title. It was what many thought would be the continuation of another great decade or more of U.S. Tennis.

Unfortunately for Roddick it was quite the opposite. After 2003, he never won another major despite making four more finals. Not only has Roddick yet to win his second major, but no other U.S. man since him has won one since. Instead of leading the next era of greatness, Roddick has represented the U.S. in its longest ever period of futility.

The former world No. 1 has been long gone and entering the Olympics will be a soon to turn 30-year-old who is just trying to survive in a sport that seems to be passing him by. His fight seems to diminish with every heartbreaking loss and winning matches has certainly not gotten easier with age. Although he is coming off of a win at the Atlanta Championships, there is not much of a chance that he will factor into any sort of medal contention in London. In fact, he would be lucky if he made it through to the quarterfinals.

Donald Young

Donald Young is lucky to even be making the trip to London.

In February, when the Olympic qualifying took place, he sat at a career high No. 38 in the world. He was coming off of his highest grand slam result after having made it to the fourth round at the U.S. Open. Since that time however, his ranking has dropped as he has failed to establish any sort of consistency in the four majors. He now sits at No. 57 in the world, meaning that if Olympic qualifying happened today, he wouldn't have been eligible for participation.

Young made the decision to go pro after winning the Wimbledon juniors tournament in 2007. Since then he has yet to really make a splash in the grand slam tournaments but at the very least, he has given himself the opportunity to qualify for the main draw of these tournaments on a consistent basis. What he has yet to find however is the consistency to make it out of the first week of these major tournaments.

With quick hands and the ability to move around the court, Young has a chance to one day contend for a major. Right now however, the best he will do in a major or the Olympics, is potentially play spoiler to some of the bigger names in the early rounds.

Ryan Harrison

The young Ryan Harrison is looking like he could be a future Andy Roddick.

Now, I mean no disrespect by this common and none should be taken. Roddick, despite only having one major, has had a pretty good tennis career. If some consider him a failure then it is only because the expectations were high and he just couldn't live up to them.

So by calling Harrison a future Roddick, I mean only nice things and expect nothing less of a Roddick type career from this young player. Harrison has the makings of a top 10 player and with just a few improvements to his game, could find himself hoisting his own major championship trophy in a few short years.

The 19-year-old Harrison has put together solid matches in grand slam tournaments that are signs of encouragement. Against Andy Murray, he has won a set, and against Novak Djokovic, he had several opportunities to break him. Now, these don't sound like the greatest accomplishments but for a young guy like Harrison, they help to establish confidence, something all of the best players need to have.

Knowing that he can at least jostle with the best players in the world has to be good for Harrison. He is on the right track and even though he will likely be ousted in the first round of the Olympic Games, he is a name you should get to know, because there is no doubt he will be back representing the U.S. and making a name for himself in no time.

Venus Williams

Venus Williams is a former champion, a former Olympian and a former world No. 1. In her best years, her and sister Serena dominated the top of the tennis rankings, winning both singles and doubles titles.

The storied career of Venus Williams is certainly a good one but it could soon be coming to an end. Even if she continues to play majors, this likely will be her third and final Olympics as injuries and age have caught up to her and have left her with a world ranking of 69.

Still, Williams is a five-time Wimbledon winner and gold medalist in singles from the 2000 Olympic Games. All of these titles were in her younger days, but Venus is the kind of player that is not going to give up. She was almost overlooked for these Olympics, just barely getting in. She has been unseeded in major tournaments and is now playing the underdog role.

At the London Games, Venus is capable of going on an inspired run, perhaps even getting as far as the bronze medal final. Likely she won't make it past the quarters, but Venus has fight left in her. If she has any inclination that this might be her last season on tour, she is going to give this performance everything she has.

Christina McHale

Just like Ryan Harrison on the men's side, Christina McHale is following the path of female champions before her. Although just 20 years old, she has already shown a lot of talent, confidence and resolve and is poised to represent herself and her country with pride in the London Games.

McHale has slowly but surely been breaking through in international tennis events. Already considered a great, young, U.S. prospect, McHale has been involved in a two-year period that has really shown great strides of growth in the young star.

In her last four grand slam tournaments, McHale has reached the third round each time. She has beaten top players in the world including then No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki and after winning the bronze medal in the 2011 Pan American Games, has risen to a top 30 ranking.

Now sitting at No. 26 in the world, McHale has been on the upswing and is currently rising through the ranks with no intent on stopping. At the Olympics, she is possible of having her best world tournament ever.

Likely she will once again be knocked out in the third round as the draw on her side is pretty tough, but if any player has the ability of make a splash and completely surprise the world it is McHale. Don't be surprised if she works her way into the bronze medal match. 

Varvara Lepchenko

Varvara Lepchenko just barely made it into the Olympics, something of which she is incredibly happy and grateful for.

After a tough life growing up, Lepchenko and her family fled to the U.S. to escape political persecution when she was just fifteen. A few short years later, Lepchenko made the decision to become a U.S. citizen and now she will represent her new home country with the highest honor a player can have by going to the Olympics.

Lepchenko is in the process of a pretty good and breakthrough year on the tour. She has made it to the fourth round in the French and third round of Wimbledon, the site of the 2012 games. She has beaten top ranked players as a qualifier in many of the grand slam tournaments and has risen to her current and career best 41st ranking in the world.

In the Olympics, she could make a deep run and reach the quarters. She has been getting better and better with more experience and confidence and with a strong performance in these games, could take a big step forward to cracking the top 25 in the world. 

John Isner

The top ranked American and eleventh ranked player in the world, John Isner could be a dark horse to land on the podium, if and only if, he plays the way we all know he is capable of playing.

In possession of one of the best serves in men's tennis, Isner languished in mediocrity for his first few years on the tour. It wasn't until he played in the longest career match in tennis history, setting numerous records along the way, that Isner began to emerge as a contender.

Known as the "Marathon Man" for his propensity to get into five set matches, Isner has developed his game further and has started to perform like a champion. He was considered a dark horse to go far and perhaps even to the finals at the 2012 Wimbledon, even though he had a disappointing showing and didn't make it out of the first round.

With Isner, the U.S. have a guy that could play well any given day. If he is on his game, hitting his serves and making good forehand returns, he could reach the bronze medal final. If he plays like he did in Wimbledon however and under-performs, it is even possible he could be the first American out.

In his Olympic debut, Isner is a medal hopeful without question but ultimately how he does is completely up to the level of play he brings to the games.

Serena Williams

Just four years removed from her doubles Olympic gold, Serena Williams is in the best shape she has been in a while. She has overcome injuries and lackluster performances and as the defending Wimbledon champ, she is coming into the Olympics having peaked at just the right time.

Before winning Wimbledon this year, thoughts that Williams could vie for a gold medal were few and far between. Like sister Venus, many thought that Serena could be in the twilight of her career, as evidenced by poor major results and general inconsistencies in overall performance.

Going into the Beijing Games, Williams could have contended for a medal in singles. Despite falling short, things got better for Williams after 2008. She regained her world No. 1 ranking the following year and has gone on to win five of her 14 titles in between 2009 and 2012.

Headed into the London Games, Williams is back to being ranked in the top five. At No. 4 in the world, she will be seeded and will have a more favorable draw than she had had in most of the recent majors.On top of winning Wimbledon, Serena is even more recently coming off of a title from the U.S. Open Series in Stanford. 

Of all of the U.S. athletes, doubles teams aside, Serena is the best chance the U.S. has to take home a gold medal. Although it won't be easy by any means, she has a realistic shot to win her first singles Olympic title and complete her career Golden Slam.

If she continues playing at the level she is currently then she is definitely one of the most dangerous players in the draw. Right now her serve is going in and she is not making a lot of unforced errors. She has put herself in a great position and for the first time since her sister won in 2000, could bring the U.S. a singles Olympic gold.