Venus Williams' Exit Caps Brutal Day for Americans at Roland Garros

Venus Williams' loss to Sloane Stephens marked the lowest and highest moment for Americans at the 2015 French Open.

On Memorial Day, one of the most patriotic days on the calendar, Americans proved once again they stink on clay.

Americans went 1-7 on the second day of the French Open. The lone win was Stephens' 7-6 (5), 6-1 win over Williams, the highest-ranked (No. 15) American to fall so far. Stephens' performance was the one bright spot in a dismal display of clay-court futility.

It's a sad day in the U.S.A. when the British win three times as many matches as the Americans—especially since the UK had only 12 entrants compared to 48 participants from the U.S.

Several of those participants received wild cards. The Americans' horrendous showing makes you wonder if it's time to reconsider the Grand Slam host nation's reciprocal wild-card program.

It's nice to get a look at young Americans such as 17-year-old Frances Tiafoe, who lost to Martin Klizan, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4. After the match, when asked what he learned from the experience, Tiafoe told Tennis.com, "I need to get a lot better."

Maybe some talented Japanese player would have made better use of that wild-card opportunity.

Heck, the Japanese—Kei Nishikori, Kurumi Nara and Misaki Doi—have three wins at the French Open despite just 16 participants. Most of their entries had to go through qualifying rounds.

Americans have never proclaimed clay-court superiority. Chris Evert, winner of seven French Open titles, is the only American to conquer Roland Garros. Andre Agassi is the last (1999) American male to win the tournament. Jim Courier is the only American male in the Open era to win it more than once (1991, 1992).

Some of America's biggest names in tennis history—John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Venus Williams—have never won.

Michel Euler/Associated Press

But at least those players offered some hope. You could get excited about a Sampras run at the French Open. Those players came close.

Besides Serena Williams, Americans aren't taken seriously at the French Open.

How interesting it was to hear Courier, captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team, during Tennis Channel commentary, criticizing Frenchman Gael Monfils and Australian Nick Kyrgios. Both won today.

Courier cited what he considered lack of focus and work ethic as pitfalls for Monfils and Kyrgios. Meanwhile, French and Aussie fans can watch those two knowing they stand a chance. How many Americans believe in John Isner on clay?

If it weren't for Serena Williams and the Bryan brothers, there would be no hope at all for Americans. Well, OK, Jack Sock has become a pretty decent doubles player. Perhaps post-Serena, that's the best Americans can hope for at the French Open: some nifty doubles play.

Of course, Americans don't grow up on red clay. That gravel-like stuff that people call clay in the states is closer to soft hard courts than it is to surface at Roland Garros. Still, this near second-day wipeout has to be among one of the worst Grand Slams showings for Americans.

Meanwhile, BBC Tennis tweeted a picture of emojis to reflect the play of British players. They ended up with three out of five happy faces. You would need just one large emoji—hurling—to describe what type of day the Americans had at Roland Garros.

No need for Americans to feel too bad about this. They just don't do clay well. It would be like Jamaicans lamenting the lack of medals for their bobsled team.

Hopefully, most Americans were too busy munching on barbecue or enjoying a sunny day at the beach to notice this Memorial Day meltdown.