Young Americans have a lot talent—and a lot of work ahead to crack the Top 10 says John Isner.

Asked to assess the next generation of American men after his 7-6(5), 7-6(5) victory over 11th-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime in Miami today, Isner praised and challenged young Americans Taylor Fritz, Reilly Opelka, Frances Tiafoe,  Tommy Paul and Mackenzie McDonald.

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"The group of young guys coming up that we all know about right now with Taylor and Frances and Tommy and Reilly, Mackie who I played the other night, there are some very, very good players," Isner told the media in Miami. "They have extremely bright futures.

"But I think the onus is on them to keep doing the right things, because the best guys in the world that are their age are extremely good. We know that."

The 35-year-old Isner remains the American No. 1 despite the fact he's playing in just his sixth tournament since the pro circuit resumed last August. 

There are seven American men currently ranked in the Top 70: Isner, No. 32 Fritz, No. 41 Opelka, No. 53 Paul, No. 58 Tiafoe, No. 62 Tennys Sandgren and No. 63 Sam Querrey. Former Australian Open junior champion Sebastian Korda, who some coaches believe has the highest upside of any of the young American men, is ranked No. 87 at age 20 and continues his rise in Miami.



Pointing to the fact half of the Top 10-ranked men—Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev and Matteo Berrettini—are age 25-and-under, Isner said Americans "have a lot of of work to do" to reach that level.

"We are talking about Medvedev and Tsitsipas, the guys that are top 10 in the world and under 25 years old," Isner said. "So our young guys have a lot of work to do, I think, to try to get to that level. They are pretty close. So I don't think the state of American men's tennis is too bad right now."

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