Andy Roddick says the question he ‘hates’ being asked to American players at the US Open

Follow us on Google Discover

Andy Roddick has been keeping a close eye on American players as the US Open draws to a conclusion.

Roddick has backed Frances Tiafoe to reach the final, with the latter set to take on compatriot Taylor Fritz in the semi-finals, having beaten fellow US star Ben Shelton in the third round.

An American will also reach the US Open women’s final, with Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro both into the last four.

Pegula meets Karolina Muchova at Flushing Meadows in New York, with Navarro taking on Aryna Sabalenka, who lost to American Coco Gauff in last year’s final.

Tiafoe or Fritz meanwhile will need to make it past either Jannik Sinner or Ben Draper to clinch the trophy.

Andy Roddick hates what American players are being asked at the US Open

It is indeed Roddick who is the last American winner of the men’s US Open, having clinched the title in 2003.

The one-time Grand Slam champion has now discussed the lack of American winners lately, telling Intelligencer how it makes him feel that the current stars are constantly being asked about the issue.

READ MORE: How much prize money the 2024 US Open will pay players and every winner

“Listen, there were way more accomplished American players,” Roddick said. “I just happened to be the last one. So, therefore, I’m going to be the answer to the Jeopardy! question until I’m not.

“I hate that they get asked about it all the time. It’s not something that I enjoy at this point. I will be happy when it’s not the case anymore. And if I’m watching something and they get asked about it, I cringe a little bit.

“I don’t think they have to answer for my lack of winning another one or anyone else in the last 20 years, which is seemingly the question they’re answering. Asking Ben Shelton when the drought’s going to break when he’s been on tour for two years, I don’t really understand that.

“You’re asking him to answer for ghosts of careers past. But it is what it is. It’s going to get broken at some point. I don’t know how these guys would be able to predict when. I hope they believe it and I hope they do it.

“I’ll be there cheering them on, and I’ll be one of the happiest people in the stadium when it does happen. I also just hate that they have to answer for it all the time.”

Can Frances Tiafoe or Taylor Fritz end American Grand Slam misery?

The lack of American winners hasn’t been limited to the US Open, with US stars struggling in the other three majors.

Andre Agassi won the Australian Open in 2003, but that is the most recent American Grand Slam success aside from Roddick’s in the same year.

READ MORE: The Tennis Gazette’s expert writers predict every key 2024 US Open storyline

American men’s tennis was once in a superb place, but the nation has suffered a real drought in recent years, with the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic dominating the Grand Slams.

But there is renewed hope thanks to the superb runs of Fritz and Tiafoe at the current US Open, with one going to make the final.

American men impressed ahead of the US Open, but just two have made it to the last four at Flushing Meadows.

They will be keen to follow in the footsteps of Roddick, but also the likes of Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors, whose five US Open titles place them joint-top of the Open Era champions list alongside Federer.