Every US Open, there seems to be a magical run by a little known American who then captures the hearts of the tennis fans and tennis media. This athlete becomes inundated with interviews, cheers, tweets, and lofted expectations as they progress through the draw. American tennis fans have long been looking for the 2nd coming of Serena and Pete, and every year it seems appetites are teased by the ability of American players to raise their game under the lights of Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong. In 2009 there was the amazing run of Melanie Oudin to the quarterfinals. Along the way she beat the likes of Nadia Petrova, Elena Dementieva, and Maria Sharapova. Just last year CiCi Bellis upset Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova, capturing the attention of the American tennis media along the way. Jack Sock, Sloane Stephens, Mallory Burdette, and John Isner are just a few of the Americans to have a coming out of sorts at their home grand slam.
Which Young American Tennis Player Will Break Out at the 2015 US Open?
Tommy Paul will be a prime candidate to announce his presence on the pro tour via his home slam starting this week. The 2015 French Open Junior Champion, has worked hard this spring and summer gaining wins and experience on the challenger and future tours– claiming two futures titles already this year. He became the first teenage American man to qualify for the US Open since Ryan Harrison by defeating Marco Chiudinelli, Friday. The 18-year old has a favorable draw and is slated to play Andreas Seppi. Although Seppi is seeded 25th, he hasn’t had much play or success on the US hard court season this summer. Paul has shown an extra level of grit and competitiveness that has helped him claim a spot for himself in the already stacked group of young teenage male talent America is producing.
Another young American man with a true chance at a run in Flushing Meadows next week is Frances Tiafoe. Tiafoe, long heralded for his big ground strokes and defensive abilities, had a great clay court season on the challenger circuit. Those results propelled him to a wild card at the French Open where he lost to Martin Klizan. The 17- year old became the first tennis player to sign with Jay Z’s sports representation company Roc Nation Sports this spring cementing his budding rock star status on tour. Tiafoe earned his first main draw victory over James Duckworth before losing a close second round match to Thomaz Bellucci at Winston-Salem this past week. Tiafoe opens against #22 seeded Viktor Troicki, and although Troiki has had a good year, he comes into the tourney not at peak form. Following a Round of 16 run at Wimbledon, Troicki has lost four straight matches including opening round losses at DC, Toronto and Cincinnati where he was upset by Mardy Fish. If Tiafoe can manage his emotions in the big moments, he has a very strong chance of moving on past the first round where he would meet either Rajeev Ram or Ryan Harrison.
Rounding out the young American hopefuls is Jared Donaldson. The Rhode Island native, like his much lauded compatriots of his generation, turned pro this year and has found success on all levels of the tour. Of the young Americans, Donaldson has the most main draw victories (4 ) on tour this season, including a first round win over Nicolas Mahut at Cincinnati two weeks ago. If Donaldson can learn to settle and not let his opponents back into matches after breaking them, he too has a favorable section of the draw. Donaldson opens with the big serving, but inconsistent Czeck Lukas Rosol, before a possible 2nd round match up with the ultra consistent and perennial Isner-slaying Philip Kohlschreiber of Germany.
Even though American darling CiCi Bellis did not advance out of the final round of qualifying this year, there are still other young Americans to root for . Most notable may be Louisa Chirico. The 19-year old New York native made noise this year at DC when she upset both Heather Watson and Alize Cornet before losing a tight quarterfinal match to tournament champion Sloane Stephens. Chirico will need to use her athleticism and heavy groundstrokes to combat the pure power of young Brit Johanna Konta. If she can get past Konta in the first round, a possible match up against Wimbledon runner-up Garbine Muguruza. Although a daunting task, Muguruza has been in a major slump since that incredible run, and Chirico may be able to catch her at the right time.
Sofia Kenin, the reigning USTA 18’s National Champion hopes to use her wild card to main tour success much like CiCi Bellis did last season. The 16-year old’s limited pro schedule has been reserved for futures and challenger tournaments, but she did win 7 matches in a row earlier this year to reach the finals of Gainesville future tournament where she lost to another young, promising American Katerina Stewart. Kenin’s game revolves around craftiness and touch– an avid drop shotter, she will have to use such guile and smarts to get past her more experienced opponents in her section of the draw. Kenin opens the first round against tour veteran Mariana Duque-Marino from Colombia.
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