Fish last American in Wimbledon pool

Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Pete Sampras, Venus and Serena Williams and Andre Agassi have stamped American authority over the championships over the past four decades.

In the 43 Open Era Wimbledons, Americans have won 26 women's titles and 15 men's, more than any other country.

But with the Williams sisters falling in the fourth round this year and Andy Roddick, three times a beaten finalist, tumbling too, it is down to Fish to carry the Stars and Stripes alone.

"It's not what you set out to do," said the 10th seed, who faces world number one Rafael Nadal in the last eight on Wednesday.

"It was bad luck for the Williams sisters to lose. Unfortunate. They'll be back, I'm sure.

"Being the highest ranked American on both sides comes with a pretty high responsibility. People are watching. You feel like people are watching more than before -- especially with me."

Besides Fish, Roddick and the Williams sisters, the only other top 50 Americans in the draw were John Isner and 30th seed Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

Fish, making his first foray beyond the third round at the All England Club, has avoided the United States repeating the humbling of 2006, the only time in the Open Era when no Americans reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

Fish, who downed last year's beaten finalist Tomas Berdych to set up his quarter-final meeting with Nadal, understands why American fans may struggle to understand the current plight of US tennis.

"We're used to watching the guys compete for Grand Slams, not compete for Masters Series events or just regular events. Tennis fans are used to seeing Americans win and play each other in Grand Slam finals," he said.

"So it's tough to come from an era where Sampras and Agassi are playing each other five or six times in major finals.

"We come from a country that's used to winning and winning at a high level and at almost every sport."

He said the predominance of American football, baseball, basketball and ice hockey in the United States, while other countries have been churning out tennis stars, had contributed to the situation.

"These (other) countries are getting their best athletes. Our most important sports or our most popular sports are getting our best athletes. I think that's a lot of where we sit," Fish said.

The Florida right-hander is in form going into the Nadal clash, having been broken only once during his four matches here so far.

"Past this spot is where I want to be," he said.

"Half the battle is walking out there believing you can win, and I'll definitely do that.

"It's not having him take you out of your style of play. I know my style can be successful on these courts.

"I'll go into the match knowing my limitations but trying to play as good as I can, because I'll certainly need to."