With American tennis riding on a high, there is much anticipation for another US champion after Coco Gauff’s run to the title last year.
There is no better person to speculate on an upcoming men’s US Open champion, with Andy Roddick still the last American male player to win a major.
His 2003 triumph in New York remains both his only major singles title despite making four finals.
After Frances Tiafoe’s run to the Cincinnati final boosted him into the top 20, it became the first time since 1997 where five American men sat inside the top portion of the rankings.
With US women’s tennis seeing five players in the top 15, the hopes of another homegrown champion in New York are sky-high.
After success on the hard courts so far Roddick has suggested there is one player who might make a quiet leap for the US Open title.
Andy Roddick says Sebastian Korda is one to watch at the US Open
With a list of 10 possible champions, America is gearing up to get behind their players next week.
With Ben Shelton’s run to the semi-finals last year being the furthest run on the men’s side, doubts remain about whether he might be able to replicate his form this year.
On Roddick’s ‘Served’ podcast, he acknowledged the two highest ranked American’s saying: “Taylor Fritz, fast courts, ball striker. Took a loss to Nakashima and did not play great in Canada. He’s trying to find something.
“Tommy Paul, the same. Off of the Olympics they win bronze and grind to get that medal in doubles, which they don’t play that often. All of a sudden they are trying to find form going into the US Open.”
Continuing, Roddick said that Sebastian Korda’s impressive win in Washington outlines him as a slightly under-the-radar prospect for the title.
“Seb Korda doesn’t play and finds something. Wins the 500 in Washington, makes the semis in Canada. Might be the most in form American and maybe the least talked about going into this tournament. Keep an eye on Seb Korda, for my money.”
Korda’s Washington win was historic for reasons beyond a personal career milestone, with the American winning the title 32 years after his father did.
What is Sebastian Korda’s previous form at the US Open like?
Historically, Korda has struggled at grand slam level, especially at the US Open.
Despite runs to the fourth round at both Wimbledon and the French Open, Korda’s best performance came at the Australian Open in 2023.
Roddick is right to be optimistic, with Korda’s hard court game looking incredibly neat at the moment and in the best form of his life.
However the American has only ever made the second round in New York, and most recently lost in his opening round match in Cincinnati.
A Korda success story is certainly possible, but I fear that a tough draw might see another fairly early exit.
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