By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday August 25, 2023
The US Open draw is a blueprint for American breakthrough, says Frances Tiafoe.
Twenty years ago, a 21-year-old Andy Roddick defeated David Nalbandian and Juan Carlos Ferrero to capture the 2003 US Open championship.
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Former world No. 1 Roddick remains the last American man to raise a Grand Slam singles trophy.
A year ago, Tiafoe made a phenomenal run to the US Open semifinals where he tested eventual-champion Carlos Alcaraz losing in a five-set thriller.
Returning to New York to meet the media today, Big Foe sounds like a man on a major mission.
The 10th-ranked Tiafoe says "it's a matter of time" before an American man breaks through to master a major.
"I think American tennis is in a great place," Tiafoe told the media in his pre-tournament presser. "Tommy Paul is playing great tennis. Fritz, myself. You have Chris, Ben, Korda. I think American tennis is in a great place.
"I think it's a matter of time, whether it happens here, whether it happens in due time. Obviously what Andy did in '03 was incredible. I think we hear it more than he probably hears it, what he did in '03. Yeah, I hope one of us are able to do it. I hope when we do do it, it's here at the Open. It will be cool. It will be cool."
At the Australian Open in January three American men—Tommy Paul, Sebastian Korda and Ben Shelton—reached the last eight with Paul advancing to the semifinals bowing to Novak Djokovic.
Big-serving Christopher Eubanks made his maiden major quarterfinal at Wimbledon last month pushing 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev to five sets before falling.
Arriving in New York as the No. 22 seed last summer, Tiafoe tore through the field toppling seeds Diego Schwartzman, Rafa Nadal and Andrey Rublev en route to the semifinals.
Eleven American men are ranked inside the ATP Top 100. Five American men—Taylor Fritz, Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, Christopher Eubanks and Sebastian Korda—are seeded in New York, which marks the first time since 2004 five U.S. men are seeded at their home Slam.
"Frances and I are in the top 10. We have Tommy, who is right outside," Fritz said. "Several other guys that are in that, like, 30 to 40 range with the potential to 100% be top-20 guys. It's awesome to see. We're all going to keep kind of pushing each other.
"There's definitely a lot more people with opportunities to go really deep in the tournament, hopefully do something big."
Citing the combination of accomplished young Americans and festive (and sometimes lubricated) Flushing Meadows fan base hungry for U.S. success, Tiafoe is hopeful American men can celebrate the 20th anniversary of Roddick's US Open run with a home run of their own. Tiafoe knows from experience how fans can fuel an energized extended run in New York.
"First, American tennis is in a great spot. It's been probably the best spot it has been in a really long time," Tiafoe said, adding, "Obviously I think the biggest thing is what happened the last 12 months, adversity in sport, what that means. Saw all the people, how the country is reacting to me going for that run. I think it helps because it's not a normal face you see doing that every day here at the US Open.
"You asked about why the US Open is the best slam. I mean, 'cause you can't beat the rowdy fans here. Everyone past 3 p.m. is drunk as hell, just having an unbelievable time. The ref has no shot at controlling that atmosphere. Just let it go and let it do what it does."
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty