The strong tennis comeback of the Americans

After years of dry spells in the shadow of former greats like John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Andy Roddick and all of them, American men’s tennis is experiencing a renaissance. The backdrop seems to inspire, at the US Open in New York the upward trend is unmistakable. It is already clear that at least one US player will reach the semifinals. Because in the round of the last eight, the two Austrian conquerors Ben Shelton (he won against Dominic Thiem, who was suffering from gastritis, by giving up his job) and Frances Tiafoe, who gave Sebastian Ofner no chance, meet.

But that’s not all. Taylor Fritz is also still in the running, but he faces a Herculean task against 23-time Grand Slam triumphant Novak Djokovic (Srb).

This development is not entirely surprising, since Tiafoe reached the semi-finals in Flushing Meadows a year ago. But there weren’t three in the top eight of a major for a long time – in 2011. That was the case at the US Open in 2005, back then with Agassi, James Blake and Robby Ginepri. The last time two Americans faced each other in a Grand Slam quarterfinal was in 2001, when Agassi faced Todd Martin (Australian Open) and Sampras (US Open).

“It looks great”

You can literally feel the spirit of optimism. “It’s looking great for American tennis at the moment. The boys are about to catch the ladies,” Tiafoe said with a smile. And Shelton is also euphoric: “Tiafoe, Tommy Paul and Chris Eubanks are something like big brothers for me. We’re on the right track.” Of course, this also applies to the ladies. Coco Gauff has ended the high flight of the mother of two Caroline Wozniacki, who played her first Grand Slam event after the baby break, and defeated the 33-year-old Dane in the round of 16 6: 3, 3: 6, 6: 1. The trip goes on.

“It means a lot to me to be back in the quarterfinals here at home,” emphasized the winner of the Upper Austria Ladies in Linz 2019. In addition to Gauff, the winner of the duel Jessica Pegula against Madison Keys will also reach the round of eight.

Swiatek lost twice

For Iga Swiatek, however, the dream has burst. After her 6:3, 3:6, 1:6 defeat against Jelena Ostapenko (Lat), the Pole will lose the world number one after 75 weeks to Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus.