U.S. Open 2011: In Which I Prove To Andy Roddick That Analyzing Tennis Is Difficult

Andy Roddick, noted Default American Tennis Player and potential 2011 U.S. Open quarterfinalist, recently got into hot water by suggesting that tennis analyst was one of the easiest jobs in the world. As someone who has to be a tennis analyst once a year, I must say: I disagree very strongly. Here's what things look like for the remaining Americans in the men's bracket—

Roddick, who is known for hitting tennis balls very hard and for being the only American men's singles player of note for most of the last decade, has long been considered a vague disappointment for winning just one Grand Slam event—the 2003 US Open—and that's been compounded in 2011 by the notion that, at 29, his best tennis is behind him. Personally I can't blame a guy for losing to Roger Federer multiple times—that's a little like dumping on John Stockton and Karl Malone for never beating Michael Jordan—but that's tennis. He's got David Ferrer, the fifth seed, in round four. 

Mardy Fish was seeded ahead of Roddick for the first time, but he suffered an injury-plagued loss to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Monday afternoon to be the first of the four remaining Americans eliminated. He's known for having a cool name, I think? At least, I think it's pretty cool.  

John Isner, a 6'9" slugger, is most famous for playing an 11 hour match at Wimbledon in 2010, but has since managed to impress on his own terms. He's never gotten past the fourth round of a Grand Slam, but he'll have to get past 12th-seeded Gilles Simon to do it. 

Finally, Donald Young, constantly scrutinized for his maturity and conditioning, has reached the fourth round for the first time despite going into the tournament unseeded. (Not bad after committing career suicide.) He's got Andy Murray, whom he somehow upset earlier this year.