When Andy Roddick won his first and only Grand Slam title at the 2003 US Open, not many people would have predicted that almost 22 years later, America would still be waiting for their next male Grand Slam champion.
After Americans once dominated tennis in the 90s, thanks to the likes of Jim Courier, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras, a new, younger generation is looking for somebody to pin their hopes on to become America’s next male Slam winner.
Taylor Fritz has come closest in recent years, reaching last year’s US Open final before losing in straight sets to world number one Jannik Sinner. With four Americans in the top 20, can any of them make history and win that illustrious Slam title that has evaded a nation for so long?
Ben Shelton: America’s New Hope
Ben Shelton’s rise has been something extraordinary this year. The 22-year-old is fresh off his first Masters 1000 title in Toronto and is currently sat at a career-high six in the world.
The explosive Shelton possesses the weapons to cause problems for any player on tour, with a huge serve and a ferocious forehand. Having reached his second Grand Slam semifinal in Australia earlier this year, Shelton has only improved since then, and there is real belief that the American can impress in the final Major of the year.
However, if he is to come out on top, he is likely going to have to go through at least one of Carlos Alcaraz or Sinner, both of whom are the only two players to beat him at a Grand Slam this year.
Can Taylor Fritz Go One Better Than Last Year?
After reaching last year’s final, Fritz has come closest to ending the dry streak for American men since Roddick lost a thrilling Wimbledon final in 2009. Fritz was comfortably beaten in straight sets by Sinner, showing just how elite you must be to win a Slam.
Despite a shock early loss to then-unknown Terence Atmane in Cincinnati, Fritz is playing some of the best tennis of his career this year, and he became the first American man ever to reach the quarterfinals or better at all nine Masters 1000 events after his run in Toronto.
If the American is to go one step further than last year, his serve will undoubtedly be a big reason for that. With the backing of the home crowd, Fritz is certainly one of the favourites to conquer in New York.
Is Frances Tiafoe An Outside Contender?
Having reached the semi-final stage of the US Open twice, in 2022 and last year, his home Slam is arguably Frances Tiafoe’s biggest chance to win the greatest prize tennis has to offer.
The 27-year-old consistently shows up at his home Slam, having reached at least the round of 16 in his last five attempts. While Tiafoe might not have the game to seriously trouble the elite, he definitely has the heart to.
Although, after a relatively unimpressive couple of months combined with a potential back injury picked up in Cincinnati, American fans might well look to pin their hopes on their higher ranked countrymen.
The New York crowd will have a big part to play, as they continue to hope for a new male American Grand Slam winner. Is this year finally the year an American gets over the line?
Main photo credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
