2008 <> 2007 Roland Garros

So you'd think if Andy Roddick pulls out of a tournament, Americans wouldn't fare as well. But that's not the case at the 2007 Roland Garros (French Open).

2007 American results were horrifying:
Roger Federer (1)	SUI	def. Michael Russell	USA	6-4	6-2	6-4
Juan Carlos Ferrero (17)	ESP	def. Amer Delic	USA	6-7	6-3	6-3	6-4
Nicolas Almagro (32)	ESP	def. Justin Gimelstob	USA	6-4	6-4	6-4
Laurent Recouderc	FRA	def. Sam Querrey	USA	6-7	2-6	6-0	7-6	6-3
Diego Hartfield	ARG	def. Robby Ginepri	USA	6-4	1-6	5-7	6-4	6-2
Gilles Simon	FRA	def. Vincent Spadea	USA	2-6	6-4	6-4	6-3
Igor Andreev	RUS	def. Andy Roddick (3)	USA	3-6	6-4	6-3	6-4
Ivo Karlovic	CRO	def. James Blake (8)	USA	4-6	6-4	7-5	7-5
Juan Pablo Brzezicki	ARG	def. Robert Kendrick	USA	6-1	3-6	6-2	6-1
Match record: 0-7	Set record: 9-27
2008 American results are much better:
Roger Federer	SUI (1)	def. Sam Querrey	USA	6-4	6-4	6-3
Julien Benneteau	FRA	def. Vincent Spadea	USA	6-4	6-4	3-6	3-6	6-3
Robby Ginepri	USA	def. Donald Young	USA	6-2	3-6	7-6	6-2
Luis Horna	PER	def. Scoville Jenkins	USA	6-4	5-7	6-3	6-0
Marty Fish	USA	def. Agustin Calleri	ARG	6-7	6-4	6-2	6-4
James Blake (7)	USA	def. Rainer Schüttler	GER	6-4	6-1	7-6
Bobby Reynolds	USA	def. Thierry Ascione	FRA	7-6	4-6	6-3	6-2
Wayne Odesnik	USA	def. Guillermo Canas (29)	ARG	7-6	7-6	7-6
Juan Ignacio Chela	ARG	def. John Isner	USA	2-6	3-6	7-5	6-3	6-4
Match record: 5-5	Set record: 21-18

In 2007 and 2008, Americans did OK in the first set. The difference is after that. In 2007, they are 3-6 and 1-8 in 2nd and 3rd sets, and "oh-for" in 4th and 5th. In 2008, they went 6-4,6-4,4-3,0-2 in the 2nd through 5th sets. Still not working in the 5th, but 2-4 is much better. Perhaps they have increased their grit, which is really needed in these long matches of the Grand Slams.