First Ball Forehand

U.S. men’s tennis’ time has come. No more talk of potential. The time is now. Sporting 12 men in the top 100 and 7 in the top 50, the number of players and their high ceilings have not been seen since the early 90’s when Sampras, Agasssi, Courier, Chang led the charge.

And it gets better…All 7 in the top 50 are 26 or younger with Tommy Paul just turning 26 being the oldest in the group. We’re not even counting an injured Reilly Opelka who had been in the top 20 before he got hurt. That means this group hasn’t just arrived on the cusp of top of the game, they will be there for the next 5 years.

And it gets better…With Tiafoe’s win over Struff yesterday, he now joins the top 10. That’s 2 U.S. men in the top 10 in Fritz and Tiafoe for first time since Fish, Roddick back in 2012.

And it gets better…Tommy Paul is at his career high #15 and in the singles race, he’s at #13. He has a shot at also cracking the top 10 this year.

And it gets better…On the heals of Fritz, Tiafoe, Paul, a younger generation is already on the scene. Shelton (20), Nakashima (21), Korda (22), Wolf (24) all within the top 50. Korda, coming off of an injury that slowed his year and Shelton both have a chance at top 20 before year-end.

With high expectations now must also come the accomplishments. For Fritz, Tiafoe, and Paul, the winning has to start consistently now. Taylor Fritz is right there. As high as #5 in the world and winner of 1000 series Indian Wells, Fritz is proving he’s a threat at any tournament and beginning to make consistent quarters or better. Tiafoe is right there. With his flair for the dramatic and some fantastic runs the past year including a semi-final in the U.S. Open, he is on the precipice. Tommy Paul is a later arrival than Tiafoe and Fritz, but as high a ceiling. He now has a semi-final at the Australian Open under his belt. He is right there.

“Right there” isn’t enough anymore for these three. The time is now. Korda, Shelton and the rest of the top 50 can take more time, maybe even 2, 3 or 4 years more. Shelton and Nakashima won’t even be 25 by then. For Fritz, Tiafoe, Paul at age 25-26, they must set their sites and achieve a major victory or major final in the next 12-18 months to have any chance at making a statement on U.S. men’s tennis, to have any chance at consistently placing in the top 5 or reaching the coveted #1. How many players win their first major after 27? How many even get to #1 for the first time after that age? No one wants the added pressure, but it’s too late. It’s already there. It is within their grasp and they must grab onto it, otherwise they will quickly fall away into the Dmitrov, Raonic generation, fine players, who could never unseat the top. They are already fighting against Alcarez, Rune, and even Ruud, younger players having more success at an earlier age.

It’s an exciting time for U.S. men’s tennis. With 3 on the edge of truly breaking through into the elite of the game and at least 4 more coming right up behind them, tennis fans will be treated to a chance at U.S. men’s tennis dominance. Can this group break through and achieve to the levels of Sampras, Agassi, Courier, Chang? Will any of them rise to that level? Stay tuned. Enjoy the ride!!

What do you think?