With reigning U.S. Open champion Jannik Sinner sidelined this year, the path is that much clearer for the American men in the field.

Can one take advantage to end the 23-year drought? The next two weeks will tell.

Even with Sinner gone, Carlos Alcaraz is making his comeback to the court after a four-month layoff due to a right wrist injury. He’s the favorite, with Alexander Zverev the top seed and 39-year-old Novak Djokovic still in the mix.

Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe all are serious title contenders, with fellow Americans Learner Tien, Brandon Nakashima and Tommy Paul also ranked in the top 20. None, however, are looking at Sinner’s absence as a paved road.

“No, not really. Still gotta beat seven guys, however you slice it,” Tiafoe said. “For me, doesn’t really matter if those guys are in [or] those guys are not. Carlos is still playing, Djokovic’s still playing, a lot of good players. And to be honest, I’ve lost the last few Slams not to any of those guys. My mind says it’s not really worried about any of those guys; just trying to beat the guy in front of me.”

American men have enjoyed a great summer, with Shelton (Montreal) and Fritz (Washington) earning hard-court crowns and both Tiafoe (Cincinnati) and Nakashima (Montreal) reaching finals.

That sextet of seeded Americans each aims to become the first man to win the home Grand Slam since Andy Roddick in 2003.

“I know how much quality there is in the draw,” Shelton said. “It’d be disrespectful to just think, ‘Oh, there’s no Sinner, it’s a massive opportunity,’ when you have guys who’ve won Slams this year in Zverev, obviously Novak is in the draw, guys who’ve won big titles and been in great form, whether it’s [Rafael] Jodar, Arthur Fils, all the American guys are pretty dangerous on this surface.

“To discredit the group that’s playing high-level tennis right now wouldn’t be smart. Going into a tournament like this, I always have respect for whoever is playing.”

Shelton may be in the best form of anybody other than Zverev, the first man to repeat in Montreal since 2019. Right behind the big-serving lefty is Fritz, who reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals this year.
Fritz lost the U.S. Open final to Sinner in 2024.

Alcaraz and Sinner faced off in three finals last year — including in Flushing — but Sinner is now sidelined while Alcaraz tries to shake off the rust of a layoff.

“Once I started to practice a bit, I didn’t know when I’m gonna start,” Alcaraz said. “I don’t know if I’m gonna be ready for Cincinnati, for U.S. Open, or I’m going to miss the whole American swing. [Those] thoughts were really difficult to deal with. But finally, here we are.”

Even though Alcaraz sat out last week in Cincinnati, Fritz isn’t shocked to see him take the plunge and play in Flushing with no real runway.

“What else would he do? If he feels he’s healthy enough to play, why not play?” Fritz said. “If you feel healthy, might as well. What’s the worst that can happen? You lose. Not playing the tournament is the same thing as losing, in my opinion.”

Tiafoe added: “He’s always a guy we’re going to look at. But a lot of guys believe they can not only get him but win the event. It’s going to be an exciting U.S. Open.”

After President Trump’s presence at the men’s singles final last year caused chaos and huge delays for fans trying to get into Arthur Ashe Stadium, a spokesman said they weren’t sure whether he will attend this year.

Naomi Osaka skipped Cincinnati because, “People forget my main job is to be a mom. This is like my side hustle. I just happen to be really good at it.”

On Saturday, she wore a shirt printed with the iconic Slam magazine Allen Iverson cover from March 1999.

“For me, he’s a trailblazer. He’s also someone that I look up to a lot because he’s done a lot in fashion. … He shifted the way NBA players dress. The whole conversation around clothes in sports and also just expressing yourself through style, he’s someone I look up to in that regard.”

USTA CEO Craig Tiley on the growth of the U.S. Open: “This will become the tennis Disneyland.”