NEW YORK – For two decades, the Grand Slam trophy cabinet in the United States has remained frustratingly locked. Since Andy Roddick hoisted the U.S. Open trophy in 2003, ninety major tournaments have come and gone, leaving a generation of American men searching for a breakthrough.
The dominance of European tennis, spearheaded by the “Big Three” of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, has created a near-total monopoly on major titles. Outside of the European stranglehold, only two men have managed to break through since 2004: Argentina’s Gastón Gaudio at the French Open and his countryman Juan Martín del Potro at the 2009 U.S. Open.
This Friday, the long-standing drought faces its most significant challenge in years. Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton are set to square off in the U.S. Open semifinals, guaranteeing that one American man will advance to the final. For many, this marks a turning point for domestic tennis.
“You know the history; it was the era of the ‘Big Three’—something unmatched,” said Del Potro, who is back at Flushing Meadows this week not as a competitor, but as an analyst for ESPN Latin America. “But American tennis has the potential to break this pattern. There are so many good players now with the potential to be Grand Slam champions, and I sincerely believe Tiafoe or Shelton can do it.”
Del Potro, the last man born outside of Europe to capture a Grand Slam title, remains a revered figure in New York. His own career, which saw him defeat Federer in an epic 2009 final, was later defined by a grueling battle against attrition. After eight surgeries—spanning both wrists and his right knee—the Argentine was forced to retire in 2022 at age 33.
Reflecting on his return to the grounds, the former champion acknowledged the physical relief of retirement. “I’m moving better now because I’m not doing as much,” he admitted. “Whenever I wanted to accept invitations for clinics or exhibition games, I had to go through a medical process with injections. I stopped because that took a heavy toll on me.”
That wisdom regarding injury management has made him a mentor of sorts to the next generation. Del Potro recently shared counsel with Carlos Alcaraz, the 23-year-old Spanish phenom who returned to the U.S. Open following a five-month hiatus to nurse a right wrist injury.
“I told Carlitos to stay on that conservative path and not mess with his wrist,” Del Potro said, referencing his own past struggles of playing through pain to maintain ranking points. “My mistake was refusing to stop. Carlitos made the right decision; his wrist responded very well.”
As the tournament moves toward its conclusion, the focus shifts to Arthur Ashe Stadium. Whether it is Tiafoe or Shelton who ultimately lifts the trophy, the historic drought appears closer to ending than it has in twenty-one years.
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