Every year the US Open rolls around, and there is renewed hope that an American can step up and claim the title.
And, especially on the men’s side, that prayer usually goes unanswered.
Coco Gauff did stunningly claim the silverware last year for the women, in what has been a far more prolific gender for US tennis across the last few decades, whereas the last man to win in New York was Andy Roddick all the way back in 2003.
Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul, Seb Korda and Frances Tiafoe will spearhead this year’s charge, but none really inspires great confidence.
And yet, Chris Evert has still backed one of this group as the most likely to win the whole thing when the competition starts next week.
Chris Evert makes her US Open prediction
Speaking to ESPN ahead of the US Open for the event’s press release, she sat beside John McEnroe to discuss all things tennis.
Combing over all the latest trends within the sport, unsurprisingly including Jannik Sinner’s escaped drugs ban, eventually the two settled on a more grounded topic: the most likely American to win the whole thing.
McEnroe was unsurprisingly indecisive, but it took Evert little time to settle on her answer.
Rather shockingly, neither opted for Gauff, despite the 21-year-old having won the competition last year.
Instead, the 18-time Grand Slam champion stated: ‘I’m going to pick Shelton, only because that lefty serve, I’ve seen it 80 times in my career, and Ben’s is 20 times better. I just think he gets so many free points off that serve. I’m just going to pick him to do the best of the American players.’
Ben Shelton could thrive in the US Open atmosphere
Shelton is certainly a contender for this year’s US Open, as the 21-year-old will be looking to build on his semi-final run from last season.
And, with how he has fared on the hard courts throughout his short career, he has cause for optimism.
His all-action and fast-paced game style suits the surface massively, especially with how fast the conditions were at the Cincinnati Open.
Should he be able to keep his consistency and serve as we all know he can across just seven matches, who knows how far he might go?
Especially backed by the raucous New York crowd, who have a history of unnerving even the steeliest of opponents should they have the misfortune of facing an American player.
Shelton will get widespread support throughout the event, and knows exactly how to channel it as well.
He is one of the most lively characters on the entire tour and could thrive with the crowd behind him.
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