It’s 2003 in New York, and Andy Roddick, with his third straight ace and 123rd of the tournament, has just won the US Open after a straight-sets win over Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Roddick, then only 21, immediately held his head and looked back at his player’s box in disbelief, trying to process what he’d accomplished at a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium.
It’s an image etched into the memories of many fans, especially those from the United States. But numerous active Americans on the ATP Tour barely have any recollection of it.
Taylor Fritz didn’t watch much tennis growing up. Tommy Paul was just getting into the sport and recalls wanting to buy the same Reebok outfit Roddick wore in that championship match.
Christopher Eubanks used the same Babolat Pure Drive racket as Roddick when he was young, thinking it’d help his play. Meanwhile, Ben Shelton was 11 months old when Roddick served out Ferrero.
As the 20th anniversary of Roddick’s win approaches, each of the players has come to appreciate what transpired that day in Flushing Meadows and all that Roddick’s done for the sport in the U.S.
“We all kind of looked up to him, and it feels like we’re almost chasing him because he’s the last American (man) to win a Slam. That’s what we’re all after,” Fritz told theScore at the National Bank Open in Toronto in August.
Roddick’s victory and Pete Sampras’ official retirement that year seemed like the perfect passing of the torch; the next American generation appeared ready.
Instead, 78 Grand Slams have passed without an American as the last man standing in singles play, smashing the country’s previous record of 20 consecutive majors.
Roddick ended 2003 as the World No. 1 and went on to reach four more Grand Slam finals, falling to Roger Federer on each occasion (including a heartbreaking 2009 Wimbledon final in which the Swiss legend prevailed 16-14 in the fifth set).
No U.S. man has appeared in a Grand Slam singles final since. It wasn’t until Sam Querrey in 2017 that another male battled his way into a major semifinal.
Despite never reaching the summit again, Roddick left a lasting impression on the next generation of players representing the Stars and Stripes.
Roddick was always a threat on the circuit, taking home 18 singles titles and finishing no lower than No. 8 in the ATP rankings between 2004 and 2010.
His steady play amid sky-high expectations was one of the things Eubanks admired about him.
“I always remember Andy being the bearer for American tennis for years and how he handled that so exceptionally well,” Eubanks told theScore. “And then, obviously, James (Blake) was right there with him inside the top 10. Mardy (Fish) came along inside the top 10.
“But even still, throughout those ups and downs, Andy was a really, really consistent player holding that mantle as the No. 1 American. So I can remember that, and the pride that he had in being the No. 1 American.”
Being the top-ranked U.S. male player is significant once again.
Two years ago, there wasn’t a single American who finished the season in the ATP’s top 20.
Today, Fritz and Frances Tiafoe lead a group of eight Americans ranked within the top 50 entering this year’s US Open. The pair is among five of the players aged 25 or younger.
In February, Fritz became the first U.S. man to crack the top five since Roddick in 2009. A few months later, Tiafoe joined him in the top 10, marking the first time in 11 years that a pair of Americans cracked the elusive plateau.
Fritz and Tiafoe have set a benchmark for U.S. men’s tennis that the likes of Sebastian Korda are currently chasing.
“It’s definitely a goal to be the No. 1 American,” Korda told theScore. “It also means that you’re playing really well. You’ve got Frances and Taylor in the top 10, so if you’re the No. 1 American, you’re obviously going to be around that area.”
Korda, ranked 31st in the world, was one of three Americans to reach the last eight at the Australian Open this year. That hasn’t been done since Andre Agassi, Robby Ginepri, and Blake made the 2005 US Open quarters.
Fritz couldn’t be happier to see his compatriots excel alongside him this year, especially Tiafoe, who encountered similar adversity early as a pro.
“I think it was 2017,” Fritz said. “I might’ve been outside the top 100 and he had dropped to, like, 80. We had both been higher. I remember we were in the airport going to Cabo, and we’re just like, ‘Dude, what are we doing, man? Come on. We’re better than this.’
“And so it’s cool to look back at moments like (that) when you know where we’re at now.”
Paul came through the U.S. pipeline at the same time as Fritz and Tiafoe. He beat Fritz to claim the 2015 French Open boys’ singles crown and dropped both of his junior matchups against Tiafoe.
All three players turned pro eight years ago, though it’s taken Paul a bit more time to establish himself on tour.
He’s found it “pretty motivating” to see two buddies from his group chat elevate their games to new heights over the past 12 months.
“We used to call ourselves the young guys on tour, but we’re not that anymore,” Paul told theScore. “So it’s our time to start winning tournaments and moving up the rankings.
“I think Fritz and Frances have really made their tennis known to be more consistent throughout the year. That’s my weakness right now, and it’s what I’m trying to work on.”
Paul’s breakout 2023 – which includes a maiden final four result Down Under and a second career victory over World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz – has similarly driven Eubanks’ own ascent from journeyman to late bloomer.
“I grew up with Tommy playing tournaments in the South, so to see him as a Grand Slam semifinalist this year in Australia was really cool,” Eubanks said. “I think it kind of serves as motivation. These are guys that we know. These are guys we practice with, we compete against.
“So to see them do well kind of serves as that extra belief to say, ‘Hey, maybe we can do something special as well.'”
Eubanks’ and Tiafoe’s successes have been particularly meaningful to Shelton. The Florida standout remembers watching Tiafoe several years ago at the USTA juniors championship in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Shelton has struck a bond with Eubanks; both were born in Atlanta and went through the college system. He said he’s extremely grateful to have Eubanks to lean on during his first full season on the circuit.
“He’s definitely like a big brother to me,” Shelton told theScore. “He played tennis at Georgia Tech, which is where my dad formally coached. So being able to see a Black guy playing at the top level of college tennis and then making the transition to pro tennis, he was someone that I 100% looked up to.
“He’s always been close to my dad, and he kind of took me under his wing. So to be able to have him as a friend out here, it’s been great, and I’ve been really happy for his success.”
The depth of talent among American men is as strong as it’s been in years.
Fritz’s, Tiafoe’s, and Paul’s best tennis is likely still to come. Eubanks’ quarterfinal run at Wimbledon this summer showed how dangerous he can be when his serve is on. Korda and Shelton are two of the sport’s brightest prospects.
Their desire to build off each other’s success has fueled a resurgence in U.S. men’s tennis.
But strength in numbers won’t necessarily translate into a Grand Slam win.
Even with Federer finally out of the picture, Novak Djokovic’s longevity and Alcaraz’s rise remain massive obstacles to ending the 20-year American drought.
However, the burden is no longer on one player like it was during much of Roddick’s career.
“It’s a great opportunity. I think we have a lot of talent,” Shelton told reporters, including theScore, following his first-round win in Toronto. “Obviously, winning a Grand Slam isn’t easy. You have to get through Djokovic, Alcaraz, (Alexander) Zverev, and (Daniil) Medvedev. There’s so many guys out there playing at such a high level.
“But I think it’s a really cool time in American tennis where we can make a push and definitely put pressure on some of these guys. I don’t know if one of us is gonna win a Grand Slam or when it’s gonna happen, but I’m looking forward to the opportunity for one of us.”