Home to a record 95 Grand Slam champions, the United States is the most prolific tennis powerhouse.
While the women have tasted recent success – the likes of Coco Gauff and Madison Keys have hoisted major trophies as recently as last year – a drought has lingered on the men’s side. Despite their talent, no American man has won a Grand Slam title since US Open 2003.
Reaching a Grand Slam final has also proven difficult with Taylor Fritz (US Open 2024) the only American man in the past 15 years to achieve the feat.
Strength in numbers bodes well at this year's US Open. Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe and Alex Michelsen are all through to the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows, marking just the second time in 20 years where three American men have reached the final eight.
Learner Tien was one set away from extending the contingent to four, something which has not happened since 1995.
Andy Roddick, the last American major champion, believes the crowning moment is nearing.
“I know we’re all sick of hearing about no men’s Grand Slam winners since 2003,” Roddick told PEOPLE. “I think there’s a very real chance on the men’s side, and I know that conversation and that pressure mechanism is going to get ratcheted up.
“It’s not just one of two guys. We have six or seven really good players on the men’s side. We’re acting like the American women right now where we have lots of options.”
There is one guaranteed semifinalist with Tiafoe and Michelsen to play against each other, while Shelton faces the challenging task of halting Carlos Alcaraz’s title defence.
With only four top-10 players left in the draw – the least at this stage in four years – one member of the trio could be the United States’ 96th major champion.
Ben Shelton
One of the four top-10 players remaining, Shelton is mounting a case for his first Grand Slam crown.
Shelton’s road to the final eight has been somewhat difficult, going through three former top-10 players. The 2023 semifinalist weathered the storm against Tallon Griekspoor, Hubert Hurkacz and Denis Shapovalov, before unleashing on an in-form Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Despite an 0-3 record against Spain's Alcaraz, a more-improved Shelton will take to the court. Since their most recent encounter at Roland Garros 2025, Shelton has won 60 of 86 matches and won five ATP titles, including back-to-back Canadian Masters.
Given his improvement, a new-look Shelton presents a fresh challenge for the world No.1.
“I thought I played a good match in Paris, but I think I'm serving better, returning much better. I think my shot tolerance from the baseline, overall quality from the baseline, and my movement have improved,” Shelton said.
“I think it's definitely going to be a different match playing here.”
Frances Tiafoe
August Foe has arrived again.
Four years after his breakout run in New York, the two-time semifinalist is hitting his straps at the right time. Amid a career-high 41-win season, Tiafoe has won nine of his past 10 matches, including against six top-25 opponents.
A third semifinal would earn the world No.12 a career-high ranking, surpassing his previous best of world No.10.The 28-year-old believes a coaching change and a mental reset have helped him reach new heights.
“I’m not the same person [as I was last year], not even close,” he said.
“I wasn’t in a good place here last year at all, or post US Open. It’s something I really wanted to turn over. I wanted to be a guy who showed up every single week. I’ve won a lot of matches this year. I’m high in the ATP win rate. I have a lot of big hopes for where I want to be and what I want to achieve this year, and I’ve been doing it."
With the winner to face either Shelton or Alcaraz, Tiafoe has the capabilities of causing a semifinal upset, having notably beaten Rafael Nadal in 2022.
Alex Michelsen
Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Andy Roddick and Taylor Fritz. Now add Alex Michelsen to this list.
The newly-turned 22-year-old joins the quartet as the only Americans this century to reach the US Open quarterfinals without dropping a set, a run including wins over in-form players Brandon Nakashima and Daniel Merida.
The world No.46 has struck 58 forehand winners in four matches en route to his maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal. Roddick backs Michelsen's high-calibre talent.
“I believe in his game,” Roddick said on Served. “When he hits the forehand well, I think he’s a top-20 player in the world. He’s serving great, he’s returning great, the backhand is fantastic.”
His third battle with Tiafoe provides a full-circle moment for the Californian, who has early memories of watching him as a 13-year-old.
“I probably first watched him when he played Federer here on Ashe in 2017. I remember watching that from home. I was probably like 12, 13 years old,” Michelsen recalled.
“He's also an unbelievable guy and a very good friend of mine. I think it's going to be an absolute blast. Hopefully we'll play on Ashe, and I think that will be a one-of-a-kind experience.”