By Rory Carroll
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – American hopes of ending a men’s Grand Slam title drought stretching back two decades will fall on the shoulders of big-serving Taylor Fritz and the dynamic Frances Tiafoe at Wimbledon next week.
For the first time since 2012, the U.S. has two players in the ATP top 10 in Fritz and Tiafoe and the nation that produced Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors is pinning its hopes of a return to tennis glory on them.
Fritz, ranked ninth, has been seen as the most promising of the new batch of young guns since he defeated Rafa Nadal to win Indian Wells in 2022 and will look to build on his quarter-final appearance at Wimbledon last year.
“Taylor is a confident kid. He’s worked really hard on his movement and fitness, which is the reason to me he’s in the top 10,” McEnroe told reporters.
“He hits a great ball. I don’t think he’s actually that comfortable on grass.”
The electrifying Tiafoe comes into the tournament with a ton of momentum after he won his first grasscourt title at Stuttgart earlier this month to rise to world number 10.
That made Tiafoe and Fritz the first American duo in the top 10 since Mardy Fish and John Isner in May 2012.
McEnroe said that each player, both of whom are 25, have their strengths.
“I think Tiafoe is a better volleyer and more skilled at net, athletically better. That would help him on the grass,” McEnroe said.
“Taylor hits a better ball and is a bigger guy. His serve is probably a little bit more dependable.”
Tiafoe is the son of immigrants from war-torn Sierra Leone and was introduced to the sport at a tennis centre where his father worked as a custodian.
His unlikely rise, highlighted by a run to the U.S. Open semis last year, has boosted his popularity around the world.
“There is a much bigger picture for him, and that was to be a role model to kids, to the Black community,” said former world number one Chris Evert.
“He sees a bigger picture for himself… I have a lot of respect for him. I have high hopes that he will one day win a slam.”
Fritz and Tiafoe are not the only Americans dreaming of becoming the first U.S. men’s major champion since Andy Roddick won the U.S. Open in 2003 and the first to triumph at Wimbledon since Sampras in 2000.
U.S. fans should also keep an eye on Sebastian Korda and Tommy Paul when the third major of the year gets underway, McEnroe said, while also urging patience.
“There’s going to be guys soon, Americans, that are going to make the breakthrough within a year or two hopefully,” he said.
“That’s going to be big.”
(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Toby Davis)
