Tennis: Former teen prodigy puts losing streak behind him

Donald Young, once seen as the next big thing in US tennis, feels ready to rise again after his run of 17 defeats in 2012. Photo / AP

From a teenage prodigy to owner of the third-worst losing streak in the Open era - Donald Young has encountered the full gamut of tennis experiences.

Once regarded as the next big thing in American tennis, Young is still struggling to live up to those expectations as he begins the new year at next week's Heineken Open.

The 24-year-old feels ready to find the form he showed when climbing to world No38 in 2011 and that search will start at qualifying in Auckland, an event he sees as perfect preparation for the Australian Open.

The opening Grand Slam of the season is unlikely to produce an American champion from the men's field, which would extend a drought dating back to Andy Roddick's win at the 2003 US Open.

Young was meant to be the man to snap that streak. Once the No1 junior player in the world and anointed by John McEnroe as the hottest property in tennis, he signed a professional contract with marketing group IMG at 15 but struggled in Futures and Challenger events while receiving wildcards into various ATP tournaments.

With professional tennis teachers for parents, Young's rapid ascent and subsequent slide made many observers wonder if it was too much too soon.

"There was probably a 50-50 chance that things would have gone right," he said. "But playing grown men at 15, it's kind of tough when you're used to winning and you're not winning. But it's just a live-and-learn type deal."

The lessons looked to have paid off during an impressive 2011, which culminated with a fourth-round defeat to Andy Murray at the US Open, but the promise was a false dawn as he hit a a nadir the following year.

His 17-match losing streak during 2012 ranks behind only Vince Spadea (21) and Andrey Golubev (18), an ordeal Young found humbling.

"I don't think anyone is prepared to deal with losing a lot. But it happens and you kind of have to stay focused, have your goals in mind and keep pushing. Hard work pays off at some point. Not always when you want it to, but eventually it does."

Time is still on his side and that attitude bodes well for the future as Young - along with countrymen and fellow Heineken Open attendees John Isner and Jack Sock - attempt to return the US men to the top of the sport.

"It's tough to come after eras like it - [Pete] Sampras, [Andre] Agassi, [Jim] Courier, [Michael] Chang," he said. "You had all these guys who were top 10 and winning slams.

"I feel like we'll get back to the top of the game at some point. It's just tough because, right now, the guys at the top are some of the best to ever play the game, so you're going to have to go through them.

"At some point someone's going to get a chance and hopefully one of us can take it."