American tennis has witnessed some great players over the decades, but over the last few years, they have been waiting for their next big champion. Admittedly it’s only the male side of the game where those from the States have struggled because in the women’s game, the Americans are as dominant as ever.
Serena Williams remains the most decorated female player of all time however, she has recently retired and past the baton on to the likes of Coco Gauff, who claimed her first Grand Slam late last year with victory on home turf at the US Open.
The last American man to lift a Grand Slam came 21 years ago, and in that time frame, no fewer than four of the country’s women have claimed their maiden Slam. Add to that Serena and her sister Venus, who have both romped to glory since 2003, and that proves that the females have put their male counterparts to shame. And it doesn’t look like the drought will end anytime soon.
The country’s best hope comes in the form of the 26-year-old Taylor Fritz. The San Diego-born star has already reached the quarterfinal at both Wimbledon and the French Open, and a prominent tennis sportsbook has made him a +3300 contender for victory in the former and a +10000 outsider for the latter. He will be aiming to join this illustrious list in the coming years.
However, it’s hard to forget the golden years of the 90s and early 2000s when American players took the Grand Slam tournaments by storm. From Andre Agassi to Pete Sampras, the United States has produced some of the most talented players in tennis history. But when it comes to winning the biggest titles in the sport, it has been a tough road for American men in recent years. Here are the last four men to achieve the feat.
Andy Roddick – 2003 US Open
Andy Roddick burst onto the tennis scene in the early 2000s, quickly establishing himself as one of the most promising young players in the game. In 2003, he won the US Open, defeating Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final, making him the youngest American in 13 years to win a Slam. His world record-breaking serve and aggressive baseline game made him a force to be reckoned with on any surface. He would go on to reach the Wimbledon final on three separate occasions however, was downed by nemesis Roger Federer on each occasion.
Andre Agassi – 2003 Australian Open
Andre Agassi was one of the most dominant players of his era, with his eight Grand Slam titles making him a tennis icon in the 90s and early 2000s. In 2003, at the age of 32, he became the oldest player in the Open Era to win a Slam when he captured the Australian Open, a record that would be claimed by the aforementioned Federer with victory Down Under in 2018. His incredible footwork and return of serve made him one of the most difficult opponents to face, and he continued to compete at the highest level well into his 30s.
Pete Sampras – 2002 US Open
Pete Sampras is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, with 14 Grand Slam titles to his name. His first of those came when he defeated Jim Courier – more on him shortly – in an all-American contest in the 1993 Wimbledon final, and he would go on to reign supreme at the All-England Club in six of the next seven years. He would twice win the Australian Open as well as become a five-time winner of the US Open.
In September 2002, he won his final Slam on home turf, defeating long-time rival Agassi in an all-American final in New York City in four sets. The pair had battled it out in no fewer than four Grand Slam finals before their final bout on the grandest stage, with Sampras winning three of them and the other’s sole victory being an upset win in the 1995 Aussie Open final.
Jim Courier – 1993 Australian Open
Jim Courier became the dominant force in tennis in the early 1990s and he looked set to rival both Sampras and Agassi at the summit of the men’s game mountain. The Floridian won the French Open in 1991 before reaching the French Open later that year. He would then successfully defend his crown on Paris’ famed clay courts just four months on from winning the Australian Open.
Despite being just 21 years of age, he successfully defended his trophy on the Melbourne hard courts in the winter of 1993, making it four Slam victories in just two years. From there he reached the Wimbledon final for the first time later that year, meaning that he had reached all four major finals by the age of 22, but he would never actually win one of the famed tournaments again.
