It has now been 22 years since an American man won a men’s singles Grand Slam title.
When Andy Roddick won the US Open in 2003, nobody could have predicted the drought that followed.
Two American players came close in 2025, with Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton both qualifying for major semifinals, before coming up short against the ‘big two’ of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
But with 15 American players ranked inside the ATP Tour top 100, the responsibility shouldn’t lie solely on the shoulders of Fritz and Shelton.
Several top US stars underwhelmed this year and will head into 2026 with a point to prove, and what better way to do it than to bring Grand Slam gold back home.
Frances Tiafoe and others have a point to prove next year
For a few years, it looked like Frances Tiafoe was destined to win the US Open.
He came alive under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium and reached two semifinals in three years (2022 and 2024).
Frances Tiafoe at the US Open since 2020
- 2020 US Open – Lost in 4R to [3] Daniil Medvedev
- 2021 US Open – Lost in 4R to [12] Felix Auger-Aliassime
- 2022 US Open – Lost in SF to [3] Carlos Alcaraz
- 2023 US Open – Lost in QF to Ben Shelton
- 2024 US Open – Lost in SF to [12] Taylor Fritz
- 2025 US Open – Lost in 3R to Jan-Lennard Struff
Despite his struggles elsewhere on tour, Tiafoe always seemed to find form right before the US Open began.
Unfortunately for Tiafoe, that didn’t happen in 2025, as he lost in the third round to Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.
Now ranked 30th in the world, Tiafoe needs to start strongly in the new year or risk becoming unseeded at the Australian Open.
Everyone knows how good he can be, but at 27 years of age, it’s time for Tiafoe to put it together, and for more than two weeks a year!
Which tennis player am I thinking of?
Another player with a point to prove next year is Sebastian Korda.
Injuries have cost Korda this year, as they have throughout his career so far.
His talent is undeniable, however, and Roddick was full of praise for Korda before 2025 began.
“Sebastian Korda always looks like a top ten player on the eye test,” he said.
He may look like a top-10 player, but the rankings tell a different story…
Korda finished 2025 as the world number 48, his lowest year-end ranking since 2020.
The final American player to watch out for in 2026 is Jenson Brooksby.
He made a triumphant return to the ATP Tour this year and won his first career title in Houston.
Returning from his suspension, few would have predicted Brooksby to make the impression he has, but he already looks like one of the top American players.
Who will win the 2026 Australian Open?
If he can make another step forward in the new year, perhaps he will join Fritz and Shelton in the bid to end America’s Grand Slam drought.
Every American player ranked inside the top 100
There are currently 15 American players, including Fritz, Shelton, Tiafoe, Korda, and Brooksby, ranked inside the world’s top 100.
| USA Rank | ATP Rank | Name | Age | 2025 ATP Titles | Points |
| 1 | 6 | Taylor Fritz | 28 | 2 | 4,135 |
| 2 | 9 | Ben Shelton | 23 | 1 | 3,970 |
| 3 | 20 | Tommy Paul | 28 | 0 | 2,100 |
| 4 | 28 | Learner Tien | 20 | 1 | 1,550 |
| 5 | 30 | Frances Tiafoe | 27 | 0 | 1,510 |
| 6 | 33 | Brandon Nakashima | 24 | 0 | 1,430 |
| 7 | 38 | Alex Michelsen | 21 | 0 | 1,325 |
| 8 | 48 | Sebastian Korda | 25 | 0 | 1,100 |
| 9 | 50 | Reilly Opelka | 28 | 0 | 1,026 |
| 10 | 53 | Jenson Brooksby | 25 | 1 | 1,017 |
| 11 | 60 | Aleksandar Kovacevic | 27 | 0 | 890 |
| 12 | 64 | Marcos Giron | 32 | 0 | 855 |
| 13 | 70 | Ethan Quinn | 21 | 0 | 802 |
| 14 | 88 | Emilio Nava | 24 | 0 | 684 |
| 15 | 90 | Eliot Spizzirri | 23 | 0 | 680 |
Only time will tell if any of the above will win a Grand Slam for the United States, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action.
They’ll have their next shot at major glory when the 2026 Australian Open begins on Sunday, January 18.
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