American Grand Slam Hopes Dashed at Wimbledon
Sock weighs in on the future of U.S. men’s tennis
The quest for an American man to win a Grand Slam title continues after Taylor Fritz fell to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon semi-finals. The loss extends a 22-year drought for U.S. men at the majors.
Fritz’s Wimbledon Run Ends
Fritz‘s bid concluded on Centre Court after a defeat by Alcaraz. He came within a single point of forcing a fifth set against the defending champion. He was the last American male remaining in the tournament after Ben Shelton‘s exit.
Both Fritz and Shelton had impressive runs at Wimbledon this year, but both were defeated by top-ranked players. Shelton lost to Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals.
Sock’s Perspective
After Fritzโs defeat, former player and fellow American, Jack Sock, shared his opinion on which U.S. player has the best chance of winning a Grand Slam in the future.
On the โNothing Majorโ podcast, Sock stated, โI think Taylor is still the front runner there. I mean, he finalled the US Open last year.โ
Sock continued, โHe is now in the semis of Wimbledon. Thatโs not one you can hang your hat on for him at all. I thought he played great and had his chances.
โHe had the back-to-back forehands [in the fourth set], I think there was a little tightness on one and then the next one, he leaned back and shanked a forehand, which he doesnโt usually do.
โBut going into each slam, I think he will be the favourite American for a while.โ
Sock concluded.

Grand Slam Performances
Both Fritz and Shelton have reached at least the semi-final stage of a Grand Slam tournament. Their best results thus far are summarized below:
| Player | Major Semi-Final Appearances |
|---|---|
| Taylor Fritz | 2 |
| Ben Shelton | 2 |
Before Wimbledon, Fritz reached the US Open final in 2024, losing to Sinner. Shelton reached the semi-finals at the US Open in 2023 and the Australian Open earlier this year.
Alongside Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul, Fritz and Shelton represent Americaโs best chances at securing a major title in the years ahead.