American tennis is thriving at the moment, on both the men’s and women’s sides.
And whilst the latter are enjoying that little bit more success, having captured a handful of Grand Slam titles across recent years, the men are certainly knocking on the door.
Taylor Fritz is obviously the outstanding candidate, having reached the US Open final last year, with Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul all close behind, waiting for their chance.
And yet, back in 2023, it was another player who John McEnroe predicted had the ‘most potential’ out of all the US men, and was the most likely to enjoy success in a major.
It’s fair to say that his claim is yet to come true.
John McEnroe’s failed prediction about American tennis
Speaking to Eurosport over two years ago now, he was asked to rate the current standard of tennis across the many American men present.
And whilst he was naturally effusive in his praise for the likes of Fritz and Tiafoe, it was Sebastian Korda who he favoured above all.
Photo by Sebastian Reuter/2024 Getty Images
The 66-year-old admitted: “Frances Tiafoe has also improved a lot. Taylor Fritz has phenomenal ball-striking. He definitely belongs in the Top 10 and is a Grand Slam threat. To go all the way, he’s going to have to go one step further
“I think he (Taylor Fritz) pushed the others to improve, and we’re going to have several Americans in the Top 10. I also think American players pushed each other, and that emulation helped them believe they could compete at this level.
“If I had to pick one to bet on, I would probably choose Sebastian Korda: he is the youngest of this top group and the one with the most potential at the moment.”
This is not the only lesser-known American that the seven-time Grand Slam champion has predicted for big things, with McEnroe praising Learner Tien more recently.
Why has Seb Korda not played since the French Open?
2024 was a steady if unspectacular year for Korda, who only really came into his own around this time.
After all, having suffered many first and second-round exits, he shocked many by soaring to the title in Washington before reaching the semi-finals of the Canadian Open too.
He would then start this year in similarly strong form, reaching the final in Adelaide and the quarter-finals in Miami.
Alas, his steady progression was cut short in Paris, as he announced after his third-round defeat at Roland Garros that he would miss the entire clay-court swing of the tour.
“Unfortunately no Wimbledon for me this year,” he claimed. “Stress fracture in my shin during the clay. Been a tough 12 months, but better days ahead.”
Photo by Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images
This has kept him out of Washington and Montreal, with no return in sight for Korda.
Since McEnroe’s prediction, the 22-year-old has yet to get past the third round at any Grand Slam, whilst all his aforementioned compatriots have done.
It may well come true one day, but at the moment, it’s not looking good for the legendary American tennis star.