With reigning U.S. Open champion Jannik Sinner sidelined this year, the path is clearer for American men in the tournament. The next two weeks will determine if one can end the 23-year drought. Carlos Alcaraz is making his return to the court after a four-month layoff due to a right wrist injury and is considered the favorite, with Alexander Zverev as the top seed and 39-year-old Novak Djokovic also in the mix.
Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, and Frances Tiafoe are among the serious title contenders, along with fellow Americans Learner Tien, Brandon Nakashima, and Tommy Paul, all ranked in the top 20. However, Tiafoe stated that Sinner’s absence does not simplify the competition, saying, "No, not really. Still gotta beat seven guys, however you slice it. Carlos is still playing, Djokovic’s still playing, a lot of good players."
American men have had a successful summer, with Shelton winning in Montreal and Fritz in Washington, while Tiafoe and Nakashima reached finals in Cincinnati and Montreal, respectively. Each of these seeded Americans aims to become the first man to win the home Grand Slam since Andy Roddick in 2003.
Shelton emphasized the quality of the draw, stating, "It’d be disrespectful to just think, ‘Oh, there’s no Sinner, it’s a massive opportunity,’ when you have guys who’ve won Slams this year in Zverev, obviously Novak is in the draw."
Shelton is in strong form, closely followed by Fritz, who reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals this year and lost the U.S. Open final to Sinner in 2024. Alcaraz and Sinner faced off in three finals last year, but Alcaraz is now attempting to regain his form after a layoff.
Fritz commented on Alcaraz's decision to compete in the U.S. Open despite not playing in Cincinnati, saying, "If he feels he’s healthy enough to play, why not play? What’s the worst that can happen? You lose."
Tiafoe noted the competitive nature of the tournament, stating, “He’s always a guy we’re going to look at. But a lot of guys believe they can not only get him but win the event. It’s going to be an exciting U.S. Open.”
In other news, USTA CEO Craig Tiley remarked on the growth of the U.S. Open, stating, “This will become the tennis Disneyland.”