As the ATP Tour shifts to the clay-court season, the Sunshine Double’s conclusion at the Miami Open raises a pressing question: where are the American champions? Jakub Mensik’s victory over Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper’s triumph over Holger Rune marked two all-European finals, with American men notably absent from the winner’s circle in their own backyard. The last time an American won a title at Indian Wells was Taylor Fritz in 2022, and at the Miami Open, it was John Isner in 2018—a drought that’s been lingering for years. The Nothing Major podcast, featuring former ATP stars, grapples with this reality.
Speaking on the Nothing Major podcast, Sam Querrey and Steve Johnson didn’t mince words about the American side of ATP’s performance this year. They noted the lack of awards bearing an American’s name, contrasting it with past achievements like Andy Roddick’s 2003 US Open title and Mardy Fish’s career-high ranking of No. 7 and titles mostly earned on home soil. However, the absence of American men winning on their home turf has been stark this year. Querrey pointed out, “The women in America have done way better than men in the last 20 years. Now, the men are catching them, but it’s like the women are like, “no, no, no,” we’ve got titles this year from Keys, Kesler, Navarro, Pegula. Do you think all the American women like the fact that they do a little better than the men?”
Johnson noted, “They have like 23 Slams in the last two decades, maybe more and we have zero. So yeah, they just have dominated.” Compared to the ATP tour, WTA players have made significant strides. The year kicked off with Madison Keys’ first Grand Slam win against two-time reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka. Jessica Pegula won at the ATX Open in Austin, Texas, while Emma Navarro took the Merida Open. Taylor Townsend secured two doubles titles at Dubai and the Australian Open. Coco Gauff leads the pack with her No. 3 ranking and 2023 US Open victory. Over the past few years, American women have been on the rise in the WTA, a stark contrast to the ATP players.
Madison Keys USA mit dem Pokal, Trophäe, Siegerehrung, Presentation, Australian Open 2025, Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. *** Madison Keys USA with the cup, trophy, award ceremony, presentation, Australian Open 2025, Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Copyright: xJuergenxHasenkopfx
Last year saw an improvement in the game for American ATP players. Taylor Fritz reached the finals of the US Open and ATP Finals, clinching two titles, including one on American soil at the Delray Beach Open. Ben Shelton won the Houston title and achieved a career-high ranking of No. 12. Tommy Paul secured three titles in Stockholm, London, and Dallas, breaking into the top 10 ranking in January 2025. However, this year, they haven’t made it far. Although the World No. 4 Fritz did reach the semifinals of the Miami Open.
With the lack of titles this year from the American fraternity, hope remains that one of them might surprise everyone as the US Open approaches in September. This isn’t the first time Sam Querrey has expressed concern, particularly about Frances Tiafoe’s recent form.
Former pro expresses his candid thoughts over Tiafoe’s performance
Frances Tiafoe is navigating a tough patch in 2025, marked by early exits and a 6-6 win-loss record. Despite his current struggles, former Wimbledon semi-finalist Sam Querrey remains optimistic, saying, “I don’t think anything of serious concern is going on. He is just having a bit of a rough patch for a player of his calibre at the moment.” Tiafoe’s last title win was in 2023, when he triumphed in Stuttgart and Houston. Querrey noted, “Last summer, he got to the final of Cinci and semi-finaled the US Open, so he had a good pop there late in the summer, and his bar was set really high, and he has struggled to find that form again.”
Tiafoe’s journey in 2024 was a mix of highs and lows. He reached the semifinals at the US Open, showcasing his potential, but struggled in other tournaments. His performance has been inconsistent, with many pointing out that he often delivers his best tennis at the US Open. Despite this, Tiafoe remains a promising figure, having reached a career-high ranking of No. 10 in 2023. Now, he’s gearing up for the Houston Open, where he’ll face Adam Walton on April 3.
As the clay-court season approaches, American players like Ben Shelton are looking to make an impact. Shelton won his first clay-court title in Houston last year, demonstrating his versatility. With Tiafoe and other Americans preparing for the upcoming challenges, there’s hope for a breakthrough. Will they overcome their current obstacles and clinch a title? The anticipation is high as they head into the clay season, ready to turn their fortunes around.
The post “We Just Have Zero”- American ATP’s 2025 Struggles Exposed as Shocking Gap Against WTA Gets Unravelled appeared first on EssentiallySports.