The US Open has become the home of quitters. If the old saying of "when the going gets tough, the tough get going," is true, than there are some players at the US Open that are most certainly not tough.

A record 18 players have retired from matches before the matches conclusion. Keep in mind, that I am writing this during third-round play.

While there are undoubtedly some legitimated reasons among these 18 players, this large number raises intense and legitimate concerns that many players simply are deciding to stop play because they realize they have no shot at winning.

Athletes know their bodies. They also have doctors that know their bodies. If they have a certain ache, pain or injury concern leading up to a match that will prevent them from finishing they simply shouldn't play.

What is more likely the case, is that these players are falling behind by large margins, and they simply decide to stop playing through a nagging injury. At some point, this practice became accepted at this US Open. It needs to stop.

This does a serious disservice to the game and it eats away the integrity of this great tournament.

These players have a duty, that once they step out on the court they will play with 100 percent effort for as long and as hard as they can. This is what makes sports great. This is why viewers tune in and this is what all tennis players did to pave the way for these players to make a living playing this sport.

The people in the stands paid good money to see quality tennis played with passion. Not to see people fall behind and take their racket and go home. It is a slap in the face to everyone in attendance for players to retire early if there is anyway they can continue to play.

It is just as damaging for the sport when it comes to people watching on TV. Tennis is trying to stay relevant in a crowded sports market. This is a crucial time for the sport and now the most memorable thing from the 2011 US Open is players quitting.

It chips away at the very integrity of the sport, and that is a dangerous proposition. If this practice continues, fans will be running away from tennis faster than they already are.