2026 Tennis Preview: Can Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul & Frances Tiafoe finally end 22-year Grand Slam drought for American men?

Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, and Frances Tiafoe are the current flagbearers of men's tennis in America. They are among the finest players to emerge from the country in recent times. However, the nation is still waiting for its first male Grand Slam champion since Andy Roddick captured the US Open title in 2003.

America was once a dominant force in tennis. Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, and Roddick all arrived one after the other to keep the American flag flying high at the Majors since the start of the Open Era. So the current title drought seems extremely disappointing for a nation that once prided itself as a tennis powerhouse.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have dominated the Majors since the start of 2024. The American quartet of Fritz, Shelton, Tiafoe, and Paul have the game to trouble them, leaving one to wonder if 2026 is the season where they finally get over the hump to end their country's decades long wait for a Major champion.

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Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz remain the US' best bet to win a Major

Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton at the Laver Cup 2024. (Photo: Getty)

Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton have the most potential to end America's long wait for a men's singles Major title. Fritz wrapped up his fourth consecutive year-end finish within the top 10 of the rankings this year, and was also the highest-ranked American for the fourth year in a row. With his appearance in the US Open 2024 final, he became the first man from his country to reach a Major final since Andy Roddick at Wimbledon 2009.

Fritz came up short against a dominant Jannik Sinner in the final. While he didn't reach another Major final in 2025, he did make the last four at Wimbledon. The grass court Major remains his best shot at snagging a Major title, considering not many players are that comfortable on the surface these days.

Fritz has a 5-0 record in finals contested on grass, and has gone 5-8 in hardcourt finals. The French Open seems like a long shot for him, and his performances at the Australian Open usually fall flat, with only one quarterfinal showing in Melbourne so far. He has a 18-9 record at Wimbledon, and a 20-10 record at the US Open, making these two Majors his likely avenues for success.

Shelton has shown rapid improvement since his debut on the tour in 2022. He reached his maiden Major quarterfinal at the Australian Open 2023, and went one step further at the US Open later that year. While he didn't make a big splash at the Majors in 2024, he was back in the mix in 2025.

Shelton advanced to the semifinals of the Australian Open, the fourth round of the French Open, and the quarterfinals of Wimbledon this year, all career-best results for him. He also lost to eventual champions Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz on all three occasions. An injury prevented him from making a deep run at the US Open, bowing out in the third round.

Aside from the Majors, Shelton won his maiden Masters 1000 title at the Canadian Open, made his debut at the ATP Finals, and peaked at No. 5 in the rankings. He eventually finished the season ranked No. 9, his first finish in the top 10 of the rankings.

If Shelton continues to maintain his current form, then it wouldn't be surprising to see him lifting the winner's trophy at a Major next year. While a French Open title seems unlikely at this point in his career, he remains a big threat to go all the way at the remaining three Majors.

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Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul will need to reclaim their lost mojo in order to make an impact at the Majors

Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe at the Cinch Championships 2024. (Photo: Getty)

Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul both endured some tough times in 2025, although the reasons for the same were different. The former's form took a hit for most of the season, while the latter wasn't the same after an injury in the middle of the year.

Tiafoe progressed to his maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal at the Australian Open 2019. It took him a while to deliver a similar result, and it wasn't until the US Open 2022 that he proved his mettle once again. He made the semifinals of a Major for the first time that year, and went down to Carlos Alcaraz in a highly entertaining five-set battle.

Tiafoe made the quarterfinals in New York in 2023, and the semifinals in 2024. His results at the Majors in 2025 were largely disappointing, save for his first-ever quarterfinal finish at the French Open. He wrapped up the season on a five-match losing streak, and split with his entire team. He has his work cut out for him if he intends to end America's Major drought.

Paul reached his first, and so far only, Major semifinal at the Australian Open 2023. He has made three more quarterfinals since then, at Wimbledon 2024, and at this year's Australian Open and French Open.

However, Paul picked up an injury during his quarterfinal match at the French Open, which derailed his season. He competed in a handful of tournaments after that, and eventually called a time on his season after a third-round exit from the US Open.

It remains to be seen how Paul will fare in 2026 in the wake of a serious injury. If he's fully healthy, then he has a shot at making something happen, otherwise his days of being a contender at a Major could be behind him.

Edited by Rohit