Mardy Fish the U.S. Contender to Take Down Nadal?

The Wimbledon results have been quite conventional for the men's bracket. Therefore, Wednesday should presumably continue that trend, as Wimbledon could look exactly like the French Open. Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novac Djokovic and Andy Murray all made the semifinals at Roland Garros as the top four seeds, and they were all favored to do the same in this major. But Federer shockingly went down, and there are new questions about Nadal's health- which could be a big boost to his American challenger.

One of the big stories in tennis -- other than the latest heroics from Nadal, Federer and Djokovic -- is how American tennis is worse than ever before. In fact, no American is in the top 10, although this is supposed to be a new golden age for the men's game.

One of the best hopes to turn that around is Mardy Fish, who is seeded 10th at Wimbledon. However, this puts him in Nadal's path, which would normally leave him ready to get slaughtered by the world's No.1. Yet there is a glimmer of hope for Fish, after Monday's results left Nadal at less than his best.

Nadal actually lost a set to Juan Martin del Potro in the fourth round, and also hurt his heel in the process. He needed an MRI to show that he could go on, but he will likely not be at his best. If Nadal shows any vulnerability, the stage could be open for Fish, which may be a mixed blessing for tennis.

Since the men's game seems to be stronger than ever, it may not necessarily need Americans to be involved. In fact, this Wimbledon now needs Nadal to go on, since it already just lost Federer.

After Jo-Wilfred Tsonga made a two-set comeback over Federer, there will be no Nadal-Federer final for Fish to break up. If Nadal is the next to get upset, it will make the men's final less star-studded than expected, with neither of the circuit's top two players. Yet it would need some kind of big story to make up for it, and Fish bringing U.S. tennis back to the limelight would fit the bill.

Since Fish is 29 years old, he would seem to have a small window of opportunity to bring American tennis back. In addition, it would take more than one Wimbledon upset to revive the USA men's game, since Nadal, Federer, Djokovic and Murray have such a stranglehold on the circuit. But as Federer's upset loss proved, their control isn't impossible to overcome.

Wednesday's early results have already surprised everyone, so Fish has a hard act to follow against Nadal. America can see him and the other quarterfinalists on NBC from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and on ESPN 2 from 1 to 5 p.m.

Sources

Yahoo Sports- "Which of the big four is most likely to lose in the quarterfinals?"

ESPN- "CourtCast- Wimbledon"

CBS Sports- "Tsonga rallies to shock Federer, Djokovic also advances to semis"