The last time an American man lifted the Tiffany Trophy at the US Open, Finding Nemo had just hit theaters, Myspace had just launched, and Wicked was about to make its Broadway debut.

The year? 2003.

More than two decades later, American men are enjoying a resurgence, with seven U.S. players currently ranked inside the PIF ATP Top 50, including four from Southern California. It has been a breakout summer for the SoCal contingent, with Taylor Fritz capturing the title in Washington, D.C. earlier this month and Brandon Nakashima making his Top 20 debut. Together with a deepening pool of American talent, their performances have given the U.S. plenty of reason for optimism heading into this year’s US Open.

The length of the wait is perhaps best illustrated by Learner Tien. The 20 year old Irvine native was not even born when an American man last won the US Open. Now ranked inside the ATP Top 20, Tien is part of a new generation looking to end the drought.

With home soil calling and a supportive crowd behind them, the U.S. men will look to turn their summer momentum into a breakthrough in New York and end the 23 year wait for an American singles champion, with Andy Roddick still the last to lift the Tiffany Trophy.

Taylor Fritz

The most proven US Open contender among the SoCal contingent hails from Rancho Santa Fe. At 28, Taylor Fritz has reached at least the quarterfinals in each of the past three editions, highlighted by his 2024 run to the final, where he became the first American man to reach the US Open championship match since 2006. He fell to Jannik Sinner, but returned to the quarterfinals a year later, proving his run was no fluke.

The 6-foot-5 Fritz has since gained something perhaps even more valuable than another deep run: perspective. Reflecting on his 2024 breakthrough, he said his biggest takeaway was realizing he does not need to play his best tennis to make a deep run. That belief could be especially important as he returns to New York with another opportunity to take the final step.

The No. 9 seed arrives with 11 ATP titles, including five on hard courts. With Sinner sidelined by a knee injury, this year could offer an even greater opening to take that final step.

Fritz opens against fellow American Darwin Blanch, 18, with No. 24 Francisco Cerundolo a potential third round opponent. French Open finalist and Cincinnati semifinalist Flavio Cobolli could await in the fourth round, followed by potential meetings with world No. 3 Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarterfinals and top seed Alexander Zverev in the semifinals. Fritz leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head series 3-1 and 10-6, respectively.

After coming so close two years ago, can Fritz finally finish the job?

Brandon Nakashima 

A new edge has emerged in Brandon Nakashima’s game this summer. The 25 year old San Diego native has embraced a more aggressive style throughout the hard court swing, routinely charging forward and finishing points at the net. That approach was on full display during his run to the biggest final of his career, capped by an ice cold serving performance in Montreal.

The run also propelled Nakashima into the PIF ATP Top 20 for the first time. Now, he will look to carry that momentum into the US Open, where his ability to dictate play could make him a dangerous opponent.

The No. 16 seed opens against Argentina’s Sebastian Baez, whom he defeated in straight sets at Wimbledon in 2024. Should he advance, fellow American Alex Michelsen could await in the second round, followed by No. 23 Andrey Rublev or 2014 champion Marin Cilic. No. 7 seed Daniil Medvedev could loom in the fourth round, though Nakashima just defeated him in Cincinnati, with No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz a potential quarterfinal opponent.

With his ranking rising and his game taking on a more attacking identity, Nakashima has a chance to turn his strongest stretch of the season into a memorable US Open showing.

Learner Tien 

For Learner Tien, the US Open has been a story of unfinished business. The 20 year old Irvine native is set to make his fifth consecutive main draw appearance, but has yet to win a match in Flushing Meadows. The streak dates to 2022, when Tien became the youngest player to compete in the men’s singles main draw since 2005 after winning the USTA Boys’ 18s National Championships at just 16 years old.

A lot has changed since then.

Tien arrives as the No. 14 seed and No. 3 American, a far cry from the teenager who needed a wild card to enter the tournament. He has reached the Australian Open quarterfinals, climbed as high as No. 12 in the PIF ATP Rankings and advanced to the semifinals at the National Bank Open in Montreal this summer. He also pushed eventual Cincinnati finalist Frances Tiafoe to three tight sets in the third round.

The No. 14 seed opens against Portugal’s Nuno Borges, whom he defeated in straight sets at the Australian Open earlier this year. A potential second round meeting with Gaël Monfils could follow, with No. 17 Jakub Mensik a possible third round opponent. Auger-Aliassime and French Open finalist Cobolli could await in the fourth round and quarterfinals, respectively.

For a player who has accomplished so much before turning 21, one glaring omission remains. Tien has never won a match at the US Open. This year, he has the ranking, experience, and confidence to finally change that.

Iva Jovic 

Few have risen faster than Iva Jovic. The 18 year old enters her third US Open main draw as the No. 14 seed, her first time being seeded at the tournament. She returns not as a promising teenager, but as an established Top 20 player with an impressive Grand Slam résumé.

In her US Open debut in 2024, Jovic became the youngest American woman to win a main draw match since 2000, defeating Poland’s Magda Linette in straight sets as a wild card. She followed with another straight sets victory in the first round last year before falling to Jasmine Paolini in the second round.

Since then, Jovic has accelerated her rise, winning her first WTA title in Guadalajara in 2025 and reaching her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the 2026 Australian Open. She followed with a third round appearance at Roland Garros and fourth round run at Wimbledon, climbing as high as No. 14 in the PIF WTA Rankings.

Now, the Torrance native has a chance to make her deepest US Open run yet. She opens against Poland’s Magdalena Frech, with the winner of Magda Linette and a qualifier awaiting in the second round. No. 17 Alexandra Eala could follow in the third round, setting up another meeting between two of the sport’s brightest young stars. No. 4 seed and 2023 champion Coco Gauff could await in the fourth round, with No. 5 Mirra Andreeva a potential quarterfinal opponent.

Zach Svajda

Few Southern California players have taken a more patient path to the ATP Tour than Zach Svajda. The 23 year old Pacific Beach native has steadily climbed to a career high No. 62 and enters this year’s US Open ranked No. 84.

Svajda has deep roots in New York. He made his US Open debut as a 16 year old wild card in 2019 after winning the USTA Boys’ 18s National Championships, becoming the youngest American man in the field since Donald Young in 2005. He earned his first Grand Slam main draw win in 2021 and reached the second round again in 2025, pushing 24 time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic to a tiebreak in the opening set.

His biggest result of 2026 came at Roland Garros, where he reached the fourth round by defeating Alexei Popyrin, Adam Walton and No. 25 seed Francisco Cerundolo before falling to eventual semifinalist Cobolli.

Svajda opens against Germany’s Daniel Altmaier, who leads their Head2Head 2 0. No. 19 seed Casper Ruud could await in the second round, followed by No. 31 Zizou Bergs or Carlos Taberner, with No. 13 Lorenzo Musetti a potential fourth round opponent.

Six years after his Grand Slam debut, Svajda returns to the tournament that helped launch his professional career with his deepest major result already under his belt.

Thea Frodin

Thea Frodin earned a wild card into the US Open women’s singles main draw by winning the USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 18s National Championships earlier this month, becoming the third consecutive Southern California champion at the event.

The 17 year old Woodland Hills native faces No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, who can dethrone two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka for the world No. 1 ranking by reaching the semifinals. The 27 year old enters carrying an ankle injury that is limiting her ability to push up and into her serve, potentially giving Frodin an opening against one of the tournament’s biggest names. For Frodin, it is a daunting matchup and a remarkable reward for her breakthrough summer.

Marcos Giron

At 32, Marcos Giron has built his career on grit and staying power, qualities that were on full display at last year’s US Open. The Thousand Oaks native reached the second round last year after winning a five set thriller in the opening round before falling in another five set marathon, showing his ability to thrive when the pressure and physical demands are at their highest.

Giron will need that resilience again this year, opening against No. 32 seed Ignacio Buse of Peru in a challenging first round matchup. 

Alex Michelsen

Alex Michelsen enters with momentum after a summer hard court title run at the Cranbrook Tennis Classic, where the 21 year old captured the Challenger title after returning from injury. The victory helped the American sharpen his game ahead of another run in Flushing Meadows.

Michelsen will open against a qualifier or lucky loser, giving him an opportunity to build into the tournament. If he advances, he will meet fellow Southern Californian Nakashima in the second round. With three ATP finals and three career wins over Top 10 opponents already in his track record, Michelsen has shown he can rise to the occasion.

Venus Williams

At 46, Venus Williams will take the court at the US Open with a wild card, facing fellow American and 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in a first round meeting between two Grand Slam champions.

The seven-time major champion owns two US Open singles titles. She will also team with sister Serena Williams in the women’s doubles after the pair received a wild card.

Sebastian Gorzny

For Sebastian Gorzny, a US Open main draw berth is the culmination of a standout collegiate career and a journey back to his Southern California roots. The Irvine native earned his wildcard spot by winning the American Collegiate Player Wild Card Playoff, defeating fellow Southern California player Trevor Svajda.

Gorzny completed his collegiate career at Texas ranked No. 2 nationally and was named the ITA Division I Men’s Senior Player of the Year after going 26-8 in singles and earning seven wins over Top 15 opponents. He also won the 2022 Wimbledon junior doubles title.

Gorzny will make his US Open singles main draw debut against Belgium’s Raphael Collignon.

Janice Tjen

Pepperdine alumna Janice Tjen faces No. 5 seed and reigning French Open champion Mirra Andreeva in the first round. The matchup comes just days after their Cincinnati meeting, where Andreeva prevailed 6-1, 7-6(5). Tjen now gets another shot at the world No. 5 with a spot in the second round on the line.

Mayar Sherif

Former Pepperdine Wave Mayar Sherif opens against Czechia’s Nikola Bartunkova. The Egyptian reached the semifinals in Iasi this season and will look to carry that clay court success onto the hard courts of Flushing Meadows.

Yannick Hanfmann

Yannick Hanfmann, a USC Trojan, faces No. 25 seed Alejandro Tabilo of Chile in the first round. Hanfmann will look to derail the seeded player and advance beyond the opening round in New York.

Naomi Osaka

Four time Grand Slam champion and Beverly Hills resident Naomi Osaka enters as the No. 13 seed, facing Anastasia Zakharova in the first round. The former world No. 1 has a strong history in New York, winning the US Open in 2018 and 2020, and has steadily climbed the rankings to reestablish herself as a Grand Slam threat.

Against Zakharova, Osaka will rely on the powerful serve and baseline game that have made her one of the most formidable hard court players of her generation.