Sam Querrey shared his view on if he thinks an American male player can become Olympic champion in Paris.
Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Christopher Eubanks and Marcos Giron will represent the USA in the singles at the Paris Games. They will be joined by the doubles team of Rajeev Ram and Austin Kraijcek.
No American has won the gold medal since Andre Agassi in 1996, while the last woman to claim the top prize at the Olympics was Serena Williams in 2012.
The US has a rich history at the Olympics across the vast majority of sports and the quartet of Fritz, Paul, Eubanks and Giron are keen to write their own Olympic history.
Does Sam Querrey think a US male player can win Olympic gold?
Men’s tennis in the US seems to be on the up once again with several young players making their presence felt on the tour.
The players on the US Olympic tennis team will compete on clay which is not their strongest surface, but the likes of Paul and Giron are having impressive seasons.
Commenting on their chance of success, Query told The French Connection Podcast: “It’s super cool for Chris Eubanks and Marcos Giron, who won his first tournament over the weekend. Those guys got in because a few of our other players opted not to go.
“This is a huge moment for them. Giron has possibly gone in the past. Chris Eubanks, this is his first event. And for Eubanks his ranking has recently fallen but when guys were going through the Olympic team six weeks ago he was ranked a bit higher, so it’s a great opportunity for him.
“Fritz and Tommy Paul, those are two guys who have played great lately. They are not necessarily known as clay court players but two out of three sets, anything can happen.
“And Rajeev Ram and Austin Kraijcek. Both have been number one in the world in doubles. Both have won majors. They are going to be one of the better doubles teams.”
What is Team USA’s tennis Olympics record?
Since tennis returned to the Olympic Games for the first time in the open era in 1988, the USA has won five singles titles.
The lone American man to become Olympic champion was Andre Agassi in 1996, while Jennfier Capriati defeated Steffi Graff to become the first American woman to win singles gold in 1992.
Lindsay Davenport claimed the gold medal at the 1996 Games before Venus Williams triumphed at the 2000 Olympics, meaning the US women won three successive gold medals.
23-time grand Slam champion Williams, is the last American to win singles gold after she stormed to the title in 2012 without dropping a set.
From the men’s women’s and mixed doubles combined, Team USA have eight gold medals, with the most recent success coming in 2016 when Jack Sock and Bethanie Mattek-Sands won the mixed doubles event.
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