Frances Tiafoe, heading into Cincinnati, was enduring one of the toughest years of his career.
Now, set to face Ben Shelton in the third round of the US Open, he has every chance of upsetting the world number 13.
Such is the rapid-fire and ever-changing nature of tennis, he has turned his season around, and with a strong run here in New York, could once again put himself into contention for these elite events.
He is but one of a really strong American contingent, which he has now rated.
Frances Tiafoe reviews the state of American tennis
Asked after his second-round triumph over Alexander Shevchenko about the state of American tennis, Tiafoe was unsurprisingly complimentary about his compatriots.
Focusing on the men’s side, which has gone without a US Open winner for 21 years now, the 26-year-old reviewed the field and the strengths they all boast.
This notion was particularly pertinent given the 2022 semi-finalist in New York is due to play Shelton in the next round, a mouth-watering all-American clash set to send Arthur Ashe, the expected venue, into raptures.
Tiafoe told reporters: ‘We have all been playing really well.
‘There’s a window, there’s an opening in the game. This is my tenth US Open. A lot of guys, a lot of familiar faces winning the event. I mean we had three greats playing at the same time winning the event, so obviously we had sleepers come out of nowhere and win the US Open and I think this is definitely one that we can win, we just haven’t done it yet.
‘We have five guys in the top 20. All guys are dangerous, all guys are capable.’
Which American stands the best chance of winning the US Open?
As of today, particularly on the men’s side, none of the really big-name Americans have exited the competition just yet.
Ahead of the tournament, it was widely expected that Tiafoe, Shelton, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul and Seb Korda were the most likely quartet to enjoy deep runs in New York, and thus far, they are all still in the running.
However, of that group, it’s hard to look past Fritz and Paul as the outstanding favourites to go the furthest.
Naturally, the first two names would also have been in with a good shout, having both reached the semi-finals in the past two years, but whoever wins out of their upcoming clash will have the pleasure of facing Novak Djokovic in the next round.
Tiafoe recalled that US Open semi-final run recently, which was halted by the eventual winner Carlos Alcaraz.
Given the manner in which Fritz easily dispatched Matteo Berrettini in the second round though, it’s to look past him as the outstanding favourite to enjoy the deepest run.
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