The year 2024 is an American’s chance to shine at the U.S. Open.
Following their respective defeats by No. 2 Novak Djokovic and No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz at the year’s final Grand Slam, tennis fans can now focus on some home crowd favorites to go far.
After his startling loss to Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in the third round on Friday night, even Djokovic believes that a tennis player from the United States can make a significant impact in the draw.
“After losing, I’m out, Alcaraz is out, some big upsets—the draw is opening up,” Djokovic remarked. Of course, [Jannik] Sinner is the clear favorite, but [Frances] Tiafoe and [Taylor] Fritz—the American favorite—are also present. It’s attainable by anyone. Seeing who wins the title in the end will be exciting.”
The other American men in the draw are Frances Tiafoe at number 20, Taylor Fritz at number 12, Tommy Paul at number 14, and Brandon Nakashima at number 40.
In an all-American match that lasted five exhausting sets, Tiafoe defeated fellow countryman No. 13 Ben Shelton earlier on Friday. Rather than playing Djokovic for a berth in the quarterfinals, Tiafoe will now play Popyrin, their first meeting. The other Americans’ matches are Fritz against 2022 finalist Casper Ruud and Nakashima, who is playing some of his best tennis, against Alexander Zverev. If Fritz and Nakashima win each other out, that ensures an American semifinalist, from which one of the American players may see a potential matchup against Tiafoe for a spot in the final.
Paul, who will take on Canada’s Gabriel Diallo on Saturday, is aiming to earn a spot in the third round on the opposite side of the draw. Paul may have a more difficult time making it to the semifinals, though, with players like Alex de Minaur, Medvedev, and Sinner surrounding him.
The future is bright for America’s youthful tennis stars at the U.S. Open, even if it has been 20 years since Andy Roddick’s victory in 2003. Their breakthrough may be closer than we realize.