Andy Roddick is optimistic about the future of American men’s tennis ahead of the US Open.
Following Frances Tiafoe’s run to the Cincinnati Open final, America has five players inside the top 20 for the first time since 1997.
The United States were previously the dominant force on the tour with the likes of Pete Samapras, Andre Agassi and John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors winning a plethora of big titles through the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
That has somewhat dried up since then, as Andy Roddick is the last American man to win a Grand Slam back in 2003.
But with the amount of young talent on the tour at present, the former World number one is confident the American male players can add to the country’s rich tennis legacy.
What does Andy Roddick think will happen in American tennis ahead of the US Open?
American stars Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul and Sebastian Korda are all currently ranked inside the ATP’s top 20.
This is encouraging for US tennis especially ahead of the US Open, which has not been won by an American male man for 21 years.
Not one of these five players have made a Grand Slam final as yet, but Roddick thinks that by the players pushing each other, it can push them to be better and lead to a successful era for American tennis.
“We currently have five guys who are pretty much all on top of each other in ranking, all pushing each other,” she said on her ‘Served’ podcast.
“I hope more than anything one of them breaks out and makes a final or wins a slam and I think an avalanche happens. If Korda makes a final I think Tommy Paul is going ‘wait a second, I was the guy’, then Fritz goes I was the guy and Foe goes I was the guy before you guys.
“I think there is a healthy jealousy which is building. I think it’s the best we have been in a while, and I hope Ben Shelton is jealous of the next person who makes a semi. And I hope they all continue to get along and a healthy jealousy exists.”
Can an American man break through and claim the 2024 US Open title?
There is every chance that multiple American players can be successful at the 2024 US Open.
They are talented, confident and possess a strong desire to win tennis’ biggest titles and there is no better place to start than at a home Grand Slam.
Tiafoe and Shelton progressed to the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows in 2022 and 2023 respectively, and they have found some form since the North American hard court swing began.
Fritz has yet to make a major semi-final and he will hope to change that in New York this year, as will Paul and Korda.
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