The 2023 US Open has been quite good for the native players, as plenty of them booked a spot in the second week.
American tennis is historically great as the country has had many great players over the sport's long history. It feels strange not to have at least one great US player, and with all due respect to John Isner, who is retired as of a few days ago, the country hasn't had that great player recently.
It's been a while, though there are a few of them who look promising. Taylor Fritz was the first one to make a Top 10 debut and actually played at the ATP Finals last year. There is only a Grand Slam missing to cement him as one of today's better players.
He's trying to do that at this year's US Open though it will take him beating Djokovic to remain in contention and that's a bit problematic. Frances Tiafoe was the second one who entered the Top 10 doing so this year after some amazing performances.
He's also in the draw and came very close to making the US Open final last year. Another one of those prospects is Ben Shelton, whom many consider a Top 10 player in the making. He's cruising through the draw this year, so who knows? Anything can happen.
Tiafoe and Shelton play each other in the quarter-finals, which is a pity but also ensures that the US will have at least one semi-finalist this year. This year is actually the first time since 2005 that there are three US players in the quarter-finals of the US Open.
Back then, it was Robbie Ginepri, James Blake and Andre Agassi who did it. Agassi played his final Grand Slam final that year, losing to Roger Federer, who would win a couple of more after that year. In any case, US tennis is on the rise on both sides, and it's good to see.
0 Comments