Three American men have the opportunity to end a nearly two-decade drought and win the US Open title on home soil. However, the path to the championship for Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton, and Alex Michelsen could lead through Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning champion.
No American man has won the US Open since Andy Roddick in 2003. While reaching the latter stages of the tournament in New York has not been uncommon for American players this century, reaching the final has been a rarer feat. Taylor Fritz was the last American man to reach the final two years ago, where he lost to Jannik Sinner. Frances Tiafoe, seeded 11th, also reached a semifinal in 2022, where he was eliminated by Alcaraz.
Tiafoe, now 28, is seeking his third opportunity to reach his first Grand Slam final. He has shown strong form, reaching the Cincinnati final last month and carrying that momentum into the US Open, fueled by the energy of the New York crowd. "It's an out-of-body experience, no question. No real explaining that type of feeling," Tiafoe said about the crowd support. "It's like you're not even touching the ground at one point. Energy is so high, and it seems like the level of play matches that."
In contrast to Tiafoe's crowd-pleasing style, 22-year-old Michelsen has been content to compete "under the radar." Ranked world number 46, he has reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final without dropping a set, a performance that is now bringing him into the spotlight. "First, second, third rounds, all matches I'm feeling nerves. It's a human experience," Michelsen admitted. "But it's just about going out there and managing them to the best of my ability. I feel like I've done that very well."
Ben Shelton, 23, also has a chance to advance. If he can secure his first career win against Alcaraz, an American player is guaranteed to be in the final. While home stars reaching the men's semi-finals is not unusual, the final remains a significant hurdle. Alcaraz, a formidable opponent, presents a substantial challenge for any player aiming for the title.