Tennishead’s guide to the 2022 US Open – Five American men to watch out for

From late August into September each year, arguably the most famous city in the world plays host to arguably the most energetic Slam tournament. As home talent looks to harness that special energy, we take a look at five men who could win it all at this year’s US Open. 

Taylor Fritz

Fritz has been touted as a big talent for the future of American tennis for some time now, and he has started to deliver.

A 2015 US Open boys’ singles champion, Fritz claimed his first Masters 1000 title in his home state of California at Indian Wells in March. Now the American number one, he sits at a career-high ranking of 12th.

His tour form translated into a best ever Slam result at Wimbledon, reaching the quarter-finals before losing to Rafael Nadal.

Frances Tiafoe

This showman delights fans wherever he goes, especially when back home in the good US of A.

Now ranked at a career-high of 24th in the world, Tiafoe reached the fourth round of Wimbledon back in July, his best ever result at the grass Slam.

The 24-year-old has twice made it to the fourth round in New York, in 2020 and 2021.

Tommy Paul

Another successful junior, Paul peaked at world number three in the ITF junior rankings back in 2015, the same season he won the boys’ singles at the French Open, defeating compatriot Taylor Fritz in the final.

Fritz got his revenge over Paul in the final of that year’s junior US Open, before the latter turned pro soon after.

Paul has been consistently ranked inside the ATP top 100 since September 2019, breaking into the top 40 for the first time back in February and claiming a career-high of 31st in early August.

Unfortunately, Paul has not faired well in the senior US Open in the past, never making it past the first round in four appearances in 2015, 2017, 2020 and 2021.

However, the 25-year-old will be seeded at a Slam for a second time at this year’s US Open, surely a boost for breaking that home curse.

Maxime Cressy

Here is an unusual player in the modern game. After decades of the sport saw the very best players adopt serve-and-volley tactics as their primary avenue to victory, the style went out of fashion at the turn of the century.

That has not stopped 6 foot 6 French-American Cressy, who has bamboozled his contemporaries with his aggressive serve-volley play in 2022.

After entering 2022 ranked 112th in the world and with a first career title on the Newport grass in July, Cressy is now ranked just outside the world’s top 30, earning his first ever Slam seeding at the US Open.

Jenson Brooksby

A young gun who broke through in 2021, Brooksby rose from 310th in the world to 56th over the course of last season.

The 21-year-old made a splash at the US Open that September, downing top 50 pros Fritz and Aslan Karatsev to set a meeting with top seed Novak Djokovic in the fourth round.

And the youngster impressed everyone with his performance, taking the opening set against the three-time US Open champion 6-1 before falling in four sets.

Now ranked 43rd in the world but with a career-high of 33rd achieved back in June, Brooksby could cause another stir with the New York crowd at his back.

? Free >> Join our legendary newsletter

? Join >> Receive $700/£600 of tennis gear from the Tennishead CLUB

? Social >> Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube

? Read >> World’s best tennis magazine

? Watch >> How to enjoy ATP/WTA/Slam tennis on TV

? Shop >> Lowest price tennis gear from our trusted partner