American Men's Tennis is Back on the Rise at the US Open

The US Open is continuing in New York and we are inching closer to the semifinals with the women’s semifinals on Thursday and the men’s semifinals on Friday. One-half of the men’s semifinals is set with Novak Djokovic taking American Ben Shelton.

Shelton defeated Frances Tiafoe in four sets in the quarterfinals. The scoreline read 6-2 3-6 7-6 6-2 on Tuesday night inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. How poetic, right? Tiafoe was the big surprise last year, making it to the semifinals. This year, it was Shelton who was up-and-comer into the semifinals. Not to mention, Shelton is the youngest American male to reach the semifinals at the US Open at age 20 since Michael Change in 1992.

Shelton’s win also marks the first time an American male has reached the semifinals in back-to-back US Open since 2005 and 2006. The 2023 US Open also marks the first time that three American men reached the quarterfinals of the event since 2005. Taylor Fritz, Shelton, and Tiafoe did it in 2003. Andre Agassi, James Blake, and Robby Ginepri made the quarterfinals in 2005.

Throw in the fact, that Tiafoe goes to the quarterfinals in back-to-back US Open events, something haven’t been accomplished by Andy Roddick. Not to mention along with back-to-back semifinal appearances, how about back-to-back quarterfinal appearances on the men’s side too? In 2017 it was John Isner, who just announced his retirement. Then in 2018, Sam Querrey reached the quarterfinals.

As in 2005, 2023 saw an all-American quarterfinal. Agassi played Blake in an epic five-set match which Agassi called a win for tennis that night. This year it was Shelton taking on Tiafoe. Another win for the sport.

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But it has been a long time coming for American men’s tennis. We know the storyline heading into this US Open. It has been 20 years since an American male won a Grand Slam. Andy Roddick was the last one to win and it was at the US Open in 2003. Roddick was a consistent quarterfinalist at the event and even made the final in 2006 losing to Roger Federer.

Again when Roddick won in 2003, it was the beginning of the Federer era, which turned into Rafael Nadal, which turned into Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and so on.

However, there is a belief that American men’s tennis is back. And it is a true statement to a point. Look, someone needs to end the Grand Slam drought first. However, results at Masters 1000 events are really good too. And Ben Shelton is having a great year, reaching two quarterfinals at major events in the same season and now a semifinal. Huge accomplishment, but they need more.

Eventually, one of these young Americans has to break through at a major.

For so long American fans were treated to the likes of Agassi, Peter Sampras, Jim Courier, Michael Chang, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, and others winning majors. On the women’s side the Williams Sisters, Jennifer Capriati, and Lindsay Davenport. Now the younger generation like Sloane Stephens, Sofia Kenin, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, and Madison Keys are giving excitement to fans.

Hopefully, on the men’s side of things that changes. There are a lot of good American men’s tennis players out there. But none of them have been able to win at a major. Fritz has a Masters 1000 event title in Indian Wells. Tommy Paul had a nice win over Carlos Alcaraz this year along with a semifinal appearance at the Australian Open, where he defeated Shelton in the quarters. Consistency in the majors is what is needed.

What a way to close the Grand Slam year. Pau’s run to the semis in Australia was bookended by Shelton’s run to the semis at the US Open. Throw in Chris Eubanks’s run to the Wimbledon quarterfinals in there as well and it was a good year for American men.

The key will be can they follow it up next year? They will need to. Eventually, the drought needs to end. Will it be this year? Not looking good, but then again, you never know.

It has been too long, but to see American men’s tennis on the rise especially at the US Open is good for the sport.