American Men Lead US Open with Largest Field Since 1997

The 2025 U.S. Open men's singles bracket features the largest group of American players in over 25 years, with 23 entrants, the most since 1997. Leading the charge are Taylor Fritz, the No. 4 seed and 2024 finalist, and Ben Shelton, the No. 6 seed and two-time Grand Slam semifinalist, both delivering dominant first-round victories. Fritz defeated wildcard Emilio Nava in straight sets, while Shelton overcame Peruvian qualifier Ignacio Buse, signaling a strong start for American men aiming to end the 22-year Grand Slam singles title drought since Andy Roddick's 2003 U.S. Open win. Despite the recent dominance of players like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, both Fritz and Shelton expressed determination to focus on the present tournament rather than looking too far ahead. The American men's depth is seen as promising, with Fritz emphasizing that internal competition pushes the group to improve, reflecting an optimistic outlook for the future of U.S. men's tennis. Meanwhile, American women continue to excel, having amassed 25 Grand Slam titles since Roddick's last male victory.