Frances Tiafoe is one of a handful of Americans who will be expected to spearhead the hopes of the home crowd in the US Open, as the final Grand Slam gets underway this weekend.
As an energetic and affable individual, he commands great interest from the New York crowd.
This has translated into some of the finest matches of his career being at this event, and explains why it is, historically, his best-performing major as well.
A two-time semi-finalist, Frances Tiafoe will be feeling bullish about his chances of going one step further this year.
However, he is not alone in seeking to put American hopes on his shoulders, with many other names likely to feel the weight of expectation too.
Frances Tiafoe delivers his honest opinion on Tommy Paul
Particularly on the men’s side, it feels like the pressure is only increasing with each passing major.
After all, it has been over two decades since they had a male Grand Slam champion, with Andy Roddick’s 2003 triumph at the US Open the last.
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A few have reached a final since, including Roddick, but none have prevailed.
Tiafoe, alongside Tommy Paul, Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton and many more, will be hoping that this is the year where that wrong is finally corrected.
Speaking about the first of that group, in his pre-US Open press conference, he was actually asked to describe what his relationship with the 28-year-old was like.
He revealed: “That was my guy, for sure. I have known him since I was 11, he was 12, or I was 10 and he was 11. Played Under-12s, played all the tournaments.
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“Yeah, I mean, we hang out all the time. We are always super close. We’re different, for sure, in a lot of ways. I mean, we are both very relaxed and chill, and have conversations, hang out, drink, relax. He’s a cool guy. Hell of a player, as well. Hell of a player.”
Asked if their shared youth ever translated into a fierce rivalry, Tiafoe admitted: “Absolutely, for sure. All of us were.”
It seems, within the American tennis camp, there is widespread camaraderie. Coco Gauff recently revealed what she thought of Tiafoe the first time they met, to emphasise that notion.
Which American man has the best chance of success at the US Open?
It’s really hard to make predictions about American men at the US Open, given how wildly unpredictable most of them are.
Fritz is the most consistent, but has failed to build on last year’s final in New York throughout 2025. He’d be the most likely to repeat his feat, but has shown little form heading back to this major.
Tiafoe and Shelton are both very similar entities, as players who thrive on the big occasion and in a volatile atmosphere.
The latter of that duo has made a significant breakthrough just this summer though, winning his maiden Masters 1000 title. That could provide him with the necessary confidence to smash through his glass ceiling and make a charge for the US Open title.
And whilst Paul is another relatively consistent asset of American tennis, his injury woes over the last few months make him a particularly difficult commodity to rate.
At his best, he can soar through draws with minimal fuss, reaching the quarter-finals of the first two majors of the year.
If fit, he must be considered alongside this trio as they all push for glory.