US Open: Will an American Man Ever Win Another Grand Slam?

As we plummet deeper into ESPN's glammed-up 2013 US Open coverage, we are prompted to take a look at the 10 years that have got behind. In 2003, a young Andy Roddick hoisted that silver goblet-looking trophy to the delight of the Flushing Meadows faithful.

At 21, Roddick was poised to take up the John McEnroe-Jimmy Connors-Pete Sampras mantle. However, the now-retired Roddick turned out to be a one-and-doner of the Michael Chang ilk, not really close to approaching the Grand Slam total of a Jim Courier (four Slams), let alone Andre Agassi (eight Slams).

America’s current No. 1, John Isner (No. 17 ATP), enters the proceedings at meager 50-1 odds to win the U.S. Open title, according to William Hill. The 6’9” Georgia native has never made it past the quarters of a Slam. The U.S.’s next best hope, Sam Querrey (No. 31 ATP), weighs in at a hefty 200-1 according to the UK oddsmakers.

Ryan Harrison, just 21 years old, may be the Great Yankee Hope (dispatched by Rafael Nadal in short order Monday) but he’s barely on the board for this tournament at 300-1. Donald Young, a 24-year old hand-picked by McEnroe for the IMG Academy, is short-slated at 500-1.

The other Americans in the Top 100—James Blake, Michael Russell and Jack Sock—all come in at a nearly unmentionable 1,000-1; Rhyne Williams, Alex Bogomolov, Jr., Denis Kudla and all the other Americans in the draw also register as extreme long shots at 1,000-1.

So, it's a stretch to think the American men will end their Grand Slam drought in 2013, but is there an argument lurking for some sort of racket renaissance here in the States?

Seems a bit far-fetched for the short term.

We like the upside on Harrison and can see Isner, and maybe even Querrey, putting it all together for a Wimbledon fortnight or an Australian/US Open run (both Isner and Querrey are playing at a high level entering this year’s tourney; on another note, an American man hasn’t won the French Open since Agassi did the deed back in 1999).

The crystal ball is still too blurry for players like Sock (age 20, No. 86 ATP) and other young hopefuls like Williams (age 22) and Steve Johnson (age 23, No. 116 ATP); there's just no way of knowing for 15-year-old prodigy Stefan Kozlov, either, despite some of the hype.

In terms of personality, Isner is clearly a likable bloke and even has a bit of snark in his repertoire: 

He'll never be a fiery swashbuckler like Connors or an enfant terrible like Johnny Mac, and while he is no quiet assassin, his demeanor is closer to that of Sampras.

Performance is always paramount to personality, and while Mardy Fish (currently injured) has plenty of admirers, he, like Isner, is far from a household name. These fellas would surely sacrifice Twitter followers for a Grand Slam victory any day of the millennium. 

So, with the odds stacked against the U.S. men, we ask you, the reader, which American man has the best shot of winning a Slam in the foreseeable future (say, the next 15 years)?

Give it a go in the comments section.