Roddick, Querry keen to end Americans US Open drought

Local boys Andy Roddick, Sam Querry keen to end Americans' Six-year US Open title drought

Local boys Andy Roddick, Sam Querry keen to end Americans' Six-yearu00a0US Open title drought

It's been six long years since an American male won the singles title at the US Open, but hopes are growing that the rot can be stopped this year.

Andy Roddick returns to France's Marc Giquel in Round Two. pics/afp

Yesterday's action saw five home players make it into the third round in the top half of the draw, spearheaded by a revitalised Andy Roddick, the last home winner in 2003, and the fast-emerging Sam Querrey.

Former champ Roddick beat Marc Giquel of France 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win over, while Querry bt compatriot Kevin Kim 7-5, 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-4.

Querrey, the new US number two, who has been one of the hottest players on the ATP circuit this summer with a win in Los Angeles and three other finals to his credit, is in no doubt.

"I think we've got a shot," he said of America's chances of a home win.

"We've got Andy (Roddick) who has been in the top 10 for almost 10 years. Hopefully James (Blake) can get back up there. Hopefully Mardy (Fish) can get healthy.

"I'm climbing up the rankings. John Isner is doing really well. Jesse Levine is in the second round. Jesse Witten is in the third round. There's a big group of us here. I think we can make it like it once was in the '90s."

That was a reference to the so-called 'Golden Era' of US tennis a time when Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and Michael Chang were all in their prime and Americans won in six out of the 10 years between 1990 and 1999.

The picture is different now. Another American failure this year would make it six years in a row without a title. It's a matter of national pride

Isner, at six foot nine inches (2.06m) one of the tallest men ever to play the sport at the highest level, talks as though it were a team effort. "I think this is a tournament that most guys want to do well in. We're gearing up for this tournament all summer long."

Another American and former No 1 James Blake, who is battling back from a succession of injuries in a tournament he has graced over the last few years said: "To compare us or to expect the same as what happened in the Golden Era is unfair. I don't think there's going to be countries dominating the way we did with Sampras, Agassi, Chang."