Andy Roddick’s loss ends U.S. run at Australian Open

The Australian Open, as the first Grand Slam event of the year, has made a habit of introducing fresh talent to a wider stage,
most recently Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who knocked off Nadal on his way to the final here in 2008. Tsonga was marked for greatness
after that but has not quite scaled such heights, suffering from injuries, inconsistency and the limitations of his two-handed
backhand .

So it is healthy to remain skeptical after hearing a flurry of compliments and grand predictions. In the futures market that sports
has become, there is often more interest in identifying the next big thing than in appreciating the current big thing. It is the industry
that demands it, with pressure on agents and clothing companies to sign a star before he becomes a star. It is the media
buys into it, fearful of missing some significant trend.