Ginepri defeat completes American nightmare in Paris

PARIS, May 30 (Reuters) Once known as a powerhouse in the sport, US men's tennis sunk to a new low today as for the first time in 40 years no American male reached the second round of the French Open.

Nine American men had walked through the gates of Roland Garros with hopes of ending their nation's four-year wait for a grand slam title.

By day four, and even before first-round action had ended, they were hanging their heads in shame as they all trooped out of Paris.

For the first time since tennis turned professional in 1968, no American men survived the first round at the claycourt grand slam.

Robby Ginepri's 6-4 1-6 5-7 6-4 6-2 humbling by Argentina's Diego Hartfield ended US interest in the men's draw and marked the first time in 34 years that no American men have reached the second round of one of the four majors.

Reputations counted for nothing as 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick was bounced out by Igor Andreev, ranked 125th in the world, and eighth seed James Blake suffered the same fate against towering Croatian Ivo Karlovic.

''It's no secret we haven't done that great on clay this year,'' Blake said following his defeat yesterday.

''Andy got a terrible draw. Andreev is probably the toughest non-seed here. I got a tough draw on Karlovic.

''It's frustrating but we'll hopefully get it back on grass.

I promise we won't have all (nine) guys losing the first round at Wimbledon.'' The current situation is in stark contrast to American fortunes during the 1990s.

For more than a decade, the all-American smile was a trademark on finals' day at the grand slams as Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Jim Courier and Michael Chang won one major title after another.

From 1989 onwards, the quartet chalked up 27 titles between them and ensured that the United States won at least one slam a season.

When Roddick captured the 2003 US Open crown it appeared the changing of the guard had taken place as scripted.

The American juggernaut came to a shuddering halt in 2004, however, as, for the first time in 15 years, the men went home empty-handed from all four grand slam tournaments.

That barren run has now lasted 14 consecutive slams and on current form, shows no sign of ending.

REUTERS TB KP2052