Andy Roddick remains the last American man to win a Grand Slam singles title, lifting the US Open trophy in 2003.
In the 23 years that followed, many tried, and many failed in their bid to join Roddick in the history books.
Which American ATP player will be the next to win a major title, where and when?
Andy Roddick was the last American man to win a Grand Slam singles title – At the 2003 US Open…
American men were particularly disappointing at Wimbledon recently, as Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, and Frances Tiafoe struggled to meet expectations at SW19.
So, looking ahead, will it be one of them, or someone else, who finally ends the American Grand Slam drought?
The five American men most likely to end the 23-year Grand Slam drought
Ben Shelton
Shelton was stunned in the first round of Wimbledon this year, losing to Otto Virtanen, but he remains one of America’s brightest prospects.
The 23-year-old has already proven himself at the Grand Slam level, often playing his best tennis at the major tournaments.
Ben Shelton’s best Grand Slam results
- 2025 Australian Open – SF
- 2023 US Open – SF
- 2026 Australian Open – QF
- 2025 Wimbledon – QF
- 2023 Australian Open – QF
He may need to take another step forward to reach the level of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, and Novak Djokovic, but at 23, he has time on his side.
Shelton looks set to be in the mix for the next decade or so; it’s now up to him to capitalise when opportunities to win major titles present themselves.
Taylor Fritz
Fritz has come closer than anyone else to ending the American Grand Slam drought.
Back in 2024, Fritz reached the final of the US Open, losing out to Sinner in three tight sets.
The world number 10 has one advantage over the rest of the American contingent, and that is that he is a grass-court specialist.
Fritz has already won five grass-court titles, reached two Wimbledon quarter-finals and one semi-final.
And had he been fully fit at the All England Club this year, he might have gone a step or two further than the quarter-finals, where he lost to an in-form Zverev.
Whenever the grass-court season and Wimbledon rolls around, Fritz will be in the conversation, and there’s every chance he challenges for either of the two hard-court Grand Slams as well.
At 28, Fritz isn’t quite as young as Shelton, but he still has enough time to win a major title.
Frances Tiafoe
There aren’t many players who rise to the occasion quite like Tiafoe.
When the lights shine brightest, so does he, and the American has proven that time and time again.
Tiafoe is a two-time US Open semi-finalist and reached another quarter-final at Flushing Meadows, the French Open, and the Australian Open.
If the draw were to open up later this year in New York, you can imagine Tiafoe would be ready to pounce at the chance to win his first Grand Slam.
Night sessions on Arthur Ashe Stadium are where the 28-year-old performs best, so don’t be surprised if he is the man to take advantage.
Consistency is Tiafoe’s biggest issue, though, and that has affected his ranking, which in turn increases the likelihood of him meeting one of the big guns in the early rounds.
But again, if he can avoid them, perhaps he could join Roddick on the list of American Grand Slam champions.
Michael Zheng
Michael Zheng has yet to break into the top 100, nor has he won an ATP title or match outside of the major tournaments.
But it’s at the major tournaments where the 22-year-old has shown encouraging signs.
Zheng has advanced through qualifying at all three Grand Slam events this year, winning main draw matches in Melbourne and London.
Michael Zheng’s Grand Slam results (2026)
- Australian Open Q1 [WIN] vs Cruz Hewitt, 6-3, 6-3
- Australian Open Q2 [WIN] vs Marcelo Tomas Barrios Vera, 6-4, 6-7, 6-2
- Australian Open Q3 [WIN] vs Lukas Klein, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6
- Australian Open 1R [WIN] vs Sebastian Korda, 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 6-3
- Australian Open 2R [LOSS] vs Corentin Moutet, 6-3, 1-6, 3-6, 0-2 (RET)
- French Open Q1 [WIN] vs Antoine Ghibaudo, 6-4, 6-2
- French Open Q2 [WIN] vs Stefano Travaglia, 7-5, 7-5
- French Open Q3 [WIN] vs Jesper De Jong, 7-5, 6-3
- French Open 1R [LOSS] vs Dino Prizmic, 1-6, 1-6, 3-6
- Wimbledon Q1 [WIN] vs Henri Squire, 6-2, 7-6
- Wimbledon Q2 [WIN] vs Laslo Djere, 7-5, 6-3
- Wimbledon Q3 [WIN] vs Colton Smith, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
- Wimbledon 1R [WIN] vs Cameron Norrie, 6-7, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3, 7-6
- Wimbledon 2R [WIN] vs Nicolas Mejia, 6-7, 7-6, 6-1, 6-4
- Wimbledon 3R [LOSS] vs Felix Auger-Aliassime, 6-7, 2-6, 1-6
The American stunned Cameron Norrie in the first round of Wimbledon and is already gaining invaluable Grand Slam experience.
Zheng, a two-time NCAA champion, is a college tennis success story, and if he continues on the same trajectory, he may be one to watch for years to come.
Jordan Lee
16-year-old Jordan Lee may not be a contender for Grand Slams right now, but he’s certainly one to keep an eye on.
He’s already got the seal of approval from the last American man to win a major title.
During the latest episode of ‘Served with Andy Roddick‘, Roddick shared his thoughts on Lee, having watched him win the junior singles title at Wimbledon.
“Something I haven’t mentioned to this point, and I have this weird relationship with mentioning it, but you have to. I watched one of the best junior matches I’ve ever seen in the boys’ Wimbledon final,” said Roddick.
“And one was one of my old nemesis’ Lleyton Hewitt’s son, Cruz Hewitt. Fantastic. And 16-year-old Jordan Lee from the United States.
“I am hesitant to mention prospects because I think there is a thirst for an American male [Grand Slam winner], that is sometimes out of control… I am not going to be the only one talking about this kid.
“Went through qualies, won Orange Bowl last year, did it the hard way, wins junior Wimbledon, I watched him, the kid is so legit, he can move, he can run, this was a great junior final.
“I’m not going to go on and on and on. He is legit good. A prospect of which we haven’t had in a long time.”
Lee is far from the finished product, although if Roddick is saying he’s that good of a ‘prospect’, then perhaps he will be the man to end the American Grand Slam drought.
Honourable mentions of American players who could win a Grand Slam
Tommy Paul and Learner Tien have both impressed on tour recently, and even though they missed out on the top five, could well challenge for Grand Slams in the future.
The likes of Alex Michelsen, Sebastian Korda, and Ethan Quinn are also talented enough to compete, but it remains to be seen if they can take their games to the next level.
