By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday August 25, 2023

The US Open draw is a blueprint for American breakthrough, says Frances Tiafoe.

Twenty years in the past, a 21-year-old Andy Roddick defeated David Nalbandian and Juan Carlos Ferrero to seize the 2003 US Open championship.

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A 12 months in the past, Tiafoe made an exceptional run to the US Open semifinals the place he examined eventual-champion Carlos Alcaraz shedding in a five-set thriller.

Returning to New York to fulfill the media in the present day, Big Foe feels like a person on a serious mission.

The Tenth-ranked Tiafoe says "it's a matter of time" earlier than an American man breaks by means of to grasp a serious.

"I think American tennis is in a great place," Tiafoe advised the media in his pre-tournament presser. "Tommy Paul is playing great tennis. Fritz, myself. You have Chris, Ben, Korda. I think American tennis is in a great place.

"I feel it is a matter of time, whether or not it occurs right here, whether or not it occurs in due time. Obviously what Andy did in '03 was unimaginable. I feel we hear it greater than he most likely hears it, what he did in '03. Yeah, I hope one in every of us are in a position to do it. I hope after we do do it, it is right here on the Open. It will probably be cool. It will probably be cool."

At the Australian Open in January three American men—Tommy Paul, Sebastian Korda and Ben Shelton—reached the last eight with Paul advancing to the semifinals bowing to Novak Djokovic.

Big-serving Christopher Eubanks made his maiden major quarterfinal at Wimbledon last month pushing 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev to five sets before falling. 

Arriving in New York as the No. 22 seed last summer, Tiafoe tore through the field toppling seeds Diego Schwartzman, Rafa Nadal and Andrey Rublev en route to the semifinals.

Eleven American men are ranked inside the ATP Top 100. Five American men—Taylor Fritz, Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, Christopher Eubanks and Sebastian Korda—are seeded in New York.

Citing the combination of accomplished young Americans and festive (and sometimes lubricated) Flushing Meadows fan base hungry for U.S. success, Tiafoe is hopeful American men can celebrate the 20th anniversary of Roddick's US Open run with a home run of their own. Tiafoe knows from experience how fans can fuel an energized extended run in New York. "First, American tennis is in a fantastic spot. It's been most likely one of the best spot it has been in a very very long time," Tiafoe said, adding, "Obviously I feel the largest factor is what occurred the final 12 months, adversity in sport, what meaning. Saw all of the folks, how the nation is reacting to me going for that run. I feel it helps as a result of it isn't a standard face you see doing that every single day right here on the US Open.

"You asked about why the US Open is the best slam. I mean, 'cause you can't beat the rowdy fans here. Everyone past 3 p.m. is drunk as hell, just having an unbelievable time. The ref has no shot at controlling that atmosphere. Just let it go and let it do what it does."

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