Gorman Pleased at USTA's Bid to Bolster U.S. Game

WIMBLEDON, England, June 28 -- The most dramatic change at Wimbledon has been impossible for former U.S. Davis Cup captain Tom Gorman to ignore. It leaps off the TV screen with new intensity each year, he says.

After the first week of play, the only worn spot on the grass is a horizontal line that hugs the baseline. In Gorman's day, that line ran vertically, tracing the most direct path from the service line to the net.

With slower-playing grass and heavier tennis balls, it has become increasingly difficult to play the attacking style that American players made their signature at Wimbledon for so many decades. Today, the tournament is equally hospitable to defensive-minded baseline huggers.

It's a trend that has been years in the making. But it was put in stark relief by the failure of any American man to get past Wimbledon's third round this year.

That said, Gorman has been optimistic about the prospects for an American renaissance since April, when the U.S. Tennis Association created a new position -- general manager of elite player development -- and named current Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe to the job.

McEnroe's charge is to reverse the country's declining fortunes on the international tennis scene. And Gorman, 62, who's now based in Atlanta, said he has volunteered to help any way he can, whether with expertise, enthusiasm or energy.

"It's quite a commitment from the USTA to put in processes that provide the best opportunity for young players to develop their potential," Gorman said by telephone.

Gorman said he hopes that the USTA will set specific goals for placing a certain number of Americans in the top 100. And he rejects the notion that American tennis has suffered because its youngsters are too spoiled and lack the hunger that has fueled so many young Russians, Serbs and others from countries with less affluence and fewer options for sports and entertainment.

"I'm not absolutely sure about that," Gorman said. "I think it comes down to individuals and the heart and dedication and focus that each individual has. When I'm looking at the Americans, when they're out there playing it looks to me they're giving it all they've got."

Meantime, Gorman said he feels tremendous empathy for Andy Roddick and James Blake, who were key members of the U.S. Davis Cup team that snapped a 12-year championship drought last year but who failed to progress to Wimbledon's third round last week.

"I'm sure they're just sick about losing early," said Gorman, who coached the United States to Davis Cup titles in 1990 and 1992. "It's a horrible feeling to go out early in a Grand Slam, regardless of the expectations that are put upon you. The expectations that you have as an individual player are really what drives you."

Doubles specialist Mike Bryan, a member of the 2007 Davis Cup squad, said he thinks Roddick and Blake simply ran into a difficult Wimbledon draw this year.

"We have great players to potentially go deep in this tournament," Bryan said. "I think it's just bad luck. Ask the Spaniards where the Spanish are going to be at the U.S. Open, because we're going to have a lot of Americans do well there. It's just too bad."

S. Williams Is Forgiving

Serena Williams said Saturday that she is willing to accept the apology of Washington Kastles teammate Justin Gimelstob for the offensive comments he made about Anna Kournikova and called on others to do the same.

"I've heard that he issued an apology and is donating some money to the Women's Sports Foundation," Williams said. "So I think that we should accept his apology and allow him to move on and continue to contribute to tennis."