Rajeev Ram needed just over an hour to dismantle fellow American, Mackenzie McDonald, 6-2 6-3. McDonald, who made his ATP debut as a professional on today’s center court stadium, was unable to push the defending champion to a more competitive setting.
Ram Rolls
All eyes were on the defending champion when he arrived on stadium court. Ram raced to a quick 3-0 lead before McDonald able to present a challenge and get on the scoreboard. However, the 21-year-old was unable to absorb the pace of Ram’s serve; he quickly found himself in the midst of a Ram-dominated match. Ram, on the other hand, took advantage of the ninety-mile an hour serves coming from across the net, clobbering them back over to the other side to a frustrated McDonald.
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McDonald fights back
Yet again, Ram earned an early—and lengthy—lead as he scooted ahead to 4-0. This match was looking to be almost finished, and McDonald looked as though he was ready to head home. Following his first double fault of the match (in the fifth game)—the momentum started to shift. Some positive energy had been sparked on the other side of the net, and Ram could feel MacDonald's renewed hope. This pressure resulted in McDonald’s first break of serve, with a little help from the two consecutive double faults from Ram. McDonald proceeded to hold serve—the first time of the set—and even the crowd seemed to become more engaged in the match. The twenty-one-year old's glorious streak did not last long, unfortunately, as Ram fought back from this minor setback to win decisively, 6-2 6-3.
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Final Thoughts:
After his match, Rajeev spoke to VAVEL about his thoughts on the future of the up and coming ATP American players. “I think it’s as good as it’s been in a really long time. A lot of people are comparing this group to the one that was with Roddick, and Fish, and Ginepri—and a few more. And I think rightfully so."
He also cited the depth of the field as a factor that will contribute to their growth not only as players but also as a collective country.
“The best thing we got going for us is that it’s not just one guy that taking all of the heat—I think that’s going to be [the young players’] best asset. They're going to push each other and not like it when somebody passes them and it’s going to be a healthy competition.”
The 31-year-old also took a moment to remember when he was in the position of rising players such as Mackenzie MacDonald, and where his inspirations stemmed from.
“I was lucky to come behind a great group of Americans like Sampras and Agassi. It’s just pretty cool to see Americans at the end of Grand Slams when I was growing up.” The number of American players in the Newport draw certainly speaks to the breadth of American tennis history—something Ram is seeking to make, again, if he can earn his third consecutive Hall of Fame Championships title.