Why this can be finest likelihood for an American man to win US Open once more
The dialogue has spilled over into its third decade, regarding when the breakthrough lastly will come.
However this yr abruptly simply may be one of the best likelihood for it to occur.
With the previous two U.S. Open winners — Carlos Alcaraz and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic — eradicated in current days, 4 American males will probably be among the many ultimate 16 when the fourth spherical of the U.S. Open begins on Sunday.
Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz, Brandon Nakashima and Tommy Paul all are striving to turn into the primary US-born male to win any Grand Slam match since Andy Roddick hoisted the championship trophy at Flushing Meadows in 2003.
The primary three of that group — all however Paul — are on the identical facet of the bracket, maybe offering one among them a greater path for a attainable finish to the drought.
“Look, Alcaraz is out, I’m out, you realize, some huge upsets. So the draw is opening up,” Djokovic mentioned after falling late Friday night time to Alexei Popyrin. “Clearly [top-seeded Jannik] Sinner is the primary favourite, however then, Tiafoe is there, as nicely, because the American favourite. And Fritz. [Alexander] Zverev, you might have nice guys enjoying nicely, and [Andrey] Rublev and [Grigor] Dimitrov on this a part of the draw.
“However anyone can take it. It’s going to be attention-grabbing to see who takes the title ultimately.”
And the long-waiting People and their followers actually ought to be pondering “why not us?”
Tiafoe, the twentieth seed, will keep away from Djokovic within the fourth spherical and as an alternative will face the Twenty eighth-ranked Popyrin on Sunday for an opportunity to succeed in a minimum of the quarterfinals in New York for the third straight yr.
“Look, the margins are so tight. The depth within the sport is unbelievable proper now,” Tiafoe mentioned after Friday’s third-round win over one other rising American, Ben Shelton, a 2023 Open semifinalist. “So many guys enjoying rather well. If you happen to’re not sharp you possibly can lose.
“Guys are good. Nobody is mild years higher than anyone else, even Carlos, Sinner, these guys which might be profitable, [fifth-seeded Daniil] Medvedev. They win a lot. If you happen to’re not sharp and bringing your capacity that everyone knows you possibly can, you’re in all probability going to lose.”
The 26-year-old Tiafoe fell to Shelton in 2023 within the quarterfinals after reaching the semis the earlier yr.
Fritz, the highest-seeded American male at No. 12, is the primary yank to succeed in a minimum of the fourth spherical in every of the 4 majors in the identical yr since Andre Agassi did it in 2003.
He’ll face No. 8 Casper Ruud in Sunday’s fourth spherical, whereas Nakashima will probably be up towards the fourth-seeded Zverev, a French Open finalist earlier this yr.
“It’s an unbelievable expertise right here. To make the fourth spherical, as an American, it’s only a very thrilling time for me,” mentioned the 23-year-old Nakashima. “To play in entrance of those crowds, get that dwelling assist, it’s simply tremendous particular. I’ll simply form of treasure these moments as I get by means of them.
“It’s all the time nice to see the opposite People doing nicely. I believe they’ve set the bar fairly excessive for American tennis … and it’s undoubtedly an thrilling time.”
Regardless of Friday’s exit, the 21-year-old Shelton (No. 13 on the planet) believes “it’s actually cool to see the place American tennis goes.
5 gamers are ranked within the top-20, additionally together with No. 17 Sebastian Korda, who was knocked out within the second spherical.
“It’s not simply me and ’Foe [Tiafoe], there’s 4 or 5 different guys within the combine,” Shelton mentioned after Friday’s loss. “All of us are going to have our moments to shine.”
Paul, the 14th seed, accomplished the quartet of advancing People with a late-afternoon win in 4 units over Canadian qualifier Gabriel Diallo.
He’ll face top-seeded Jannik Sinner — a straight-sets winner over Christopher O’Connell of Australia — on Monday for a visit to the quarterfinals
“I believe that’s wonderful. I really like having all the opposite People going deep in tournaments, form of rolling off of one another,” Paul mentioned. “I don’t know that watching one American win helps me win, however I imply, I really like seeing it. I believe now we have a very good group proper now.”
