The U.S. males look extra promising than they've in 20 years

NEW YORK — It was only some moments after his dominant second-round win that Ben Shelton was requested about his subsequent opponent.

Coated in sweat and with a drenched towel draped over his shoulder on the blistering scorching Wednesday afternoon, Shelton claimed he did not know he can be going through Frances Tiafoe within the third spherical of the US Open. Shelton mentioned he does not take a look at the draw prematurely, nevertheless it did not take him lengthy to heat as much as the thought.

“You guys made this draw thrilling early within the week, huh?” he mentioned with a smile to the delighted crowd at Grandstand. “I am actually trying ahead to it. We had a battle within the quarters right here final yr. I am certain it will be one other popcorn-type match.”

On Friday, in entrance of a packed and certain raucous crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the 2 People will play with a spot within the fourth spherical on the road. It guarantees to be some of the fascinating tickets of the 2024 US Open and there’s already a palpable buzz across the grounds. However whereas solely one of many two can advance to the second week, their much-hyped match maybe embodies the present state of American males’s tennis, and the passion across the prime group of gamers.

Whereas there was infinite speak about what’s now a 21-year main title drought for the U.S. males, 5 American males are ranked within the prime 20, together with Shelton (No. 13) and Tiafoe (No. 20). The group has been amassing wins, producing viral moments and headlines — and appears nearer to snapping the streak than they’ve in years.

And so they imagine one among them can win it.

“We have all been taking part in very well,” Tiafoe mentioned Wednesday. “There is a window, there’s a gap within the sport. … I believe that is positively the one [Slam] that we will win. We simply have not finished it but. We have now 5 guys in prime 20, all guys are harmful, all guys are succesful. It is form of a ‘Why not?’ factor.”

When Andy Roddick hoisted the trophy on the US Open in 2003, few might have predicted that many years would go with out one other American man doing the identical. Given the contenders through the years — together with Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras, who had each received current titles at that time — it appeared all however sure Roddick and the brand new era would take up the mantle.

In fact, few might have additionally predicted the rise and dominance of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic over the subsequent 20 years. It was to not be for the American males.

“If somebody had informed me that on the time, I might have mentioned, ‘That is f—ed up,'” Roddick’s coach, Brad Gilbert, who had beforehand coached Agassi, informed ESPN final yr. “Up till that time, we simply at all times anticipated that American males can be successful as a result of we at all times had been.”

Sam Querrey reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2017 and John Isner did too on the match the next yr. Tiafoe then thrilled the US Open crowd in 2022 with a stunning run to the semifinals — together with a fourth-round victory over Nadal — and Shelton reached the ultimate 4 throughout final yr’s match. Tommy Paul, at present ranked No. 14, made the 2023 Australian Open semis.

Taylor Fritz, at present the highest-ranked American man at No. 12, has reached 4 main quarterfinals, together with finally yr’s US Open and Wimbledon earlier this summer season. All through the season, Fritz and Paul have every received two ATP titles, and Shelton has received one.

Coming into the third spherical of the US Open, Tiafoe, Shelton, Fritz, Paul and No. 50 Brandon Nakashima all stay within the draw. (Sebastian Korda, the opposite countryman ranked inside the highest 20, misplaced Thursday within the second spherical.) Fritz mentioned nobody within the group talks about the truth that no American man has received a Slam in 21 years because it’s “fairly apparent,” however is aware of all of them use it privately as motivation.

“All of us need to be the one to finish it,” Fritz mentioned earlier this week.

On Friday, Fritz will play unseeded Francisco Comesana, and Nakashima — who upset No. 16 seed Holger Rune within the first spherical — should dig deep to discover a approach to defeat No. 18 seed and Olympic bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti. Paul will face Gabriel Diallo on Saturday.

Martin Blackman, the USTA’s common supervisor of participant growth, who has labored with most of the prime People since their early teenagers, feels optimistic in regards to the group’s collective possibilities on the US Open and past.

“American tennis, women and men, is in the very best place it has been since 1996,” Blackman mentioned Thursday. “We have spent 15 years making an attempt to get right here. I imagine all 5 [of the top-ranked male players] can win a Slam. That won’t occur, however I imagine that each one 5 of them are able to it. They’ve all been keen to sacrifice and totally decide to this they usually’re not simply joyful or content material to achieve the quarters or the spherical of 16.”

The American girls have fared considerably higher over the past 20 years, with Serena and Venus Williams capturing a number of Slam titles, in addition to Sloane Stephens, Sofia Kenin and Coco Gauff every successful one.

Blackman believes it was the ladies’s success — particularly the 2017 US Open during which 4 American girls reached the semifinals and Stephens received the title — that was the turning level for the present group of American males.

“That was form of the start, and it was in all probability a pleasant wakeup name for the fellows,” Blackman mentioned. “I believe the eye and the visibility the ladies bought for that tremendous achievement sparked some urgency and was a part of the equation to get so far.”

Throughout the 2023 assembly between Tiafoe and Shelton, the 2 mates battled for 4 units in entrance of an enthralled crowd at Ashe. Tiafoe, the extra established veteran, was the group and oddsmakers favourite, however Shelton, who was then simply 20 and in his first full yr on tour, received the followers over along with his fearless play, relentless vitality and highly effective hitting. Shelton received 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(7), 6-2.

The 2 met once more within the Houston ultimate in April, with Shelton successful in three units. Each gamers know Friday’s third-round match might once more go the space — and both manner — however appeared excited for the problem.

“These are the kind of matches that I like, that I stay for,” Shelton informed reporters Wednesday. “With the ability to do it slightly bit earlier on this draw, it nonetheless feels the identical [as last year].”

The winner Friday will probably face a conflict in opposition to Djokovic, the 24-time main champion. Djokovic defeated Shelton in an entertaining match throughout the 2023 semifinals, which became immortalized when Djokovic used a “hanging up the cellphone” gesture to mock Shelton’s earlier celebratory cellphone transfer. Djokovic, who lately received Olympic gold in Paris, stays a favourite for the title, together with 2022 champion Carlos Alcaraz, who received each the French Open and Wimbledon this yr, and world No. 1 and Australian Open victor Jannik Sinner.

In fact, neither Shelton nor Tiafoe had been considering past Friday when chatting with the media Wednesday. However Shelton knew it doesn’t matter what occurred in his third-round match, and all through the match, it will probably solely assist transfer the nation’s prime contingent additional ahead.

“The standard of U.S. males’s tennis is 100% on the rise,” Shelton mentioned. “At any time when [one American finds momentum], it form of places the opposite guys on alert and I believe makes them play even higher. Like after I had change into the No. 1 American this yr for 4½ minutes, Taylor Fritz bought scorching. I am not saying that is due to me, however only a by-product, possibly coincidence. I believe that the extra that we proceed to push one another, we’re transferring in the precise route.

“Everyone needs that huge subsequent Grand Slam The U.S. males look extra promising than they’ve in 20 years or subsequent huge second for an American star, however I believe the gradual enchancment and development is what’s actually going to place People extra in direction of the highest of the sport.”