It has been over 21 years since Andy Roddick celebrated his victory at the 2003 U.S. Open. That event marked the last time a male player from the U.S. captured a Grand Slam, a dry spell that extends as Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe were both defeated in their French Open quarterfinal matches on Tuesday.

Tiafoe faced a tough opponent in Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, ultimately losing with a scoreline of 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2. Paul’s match was even more lopsided, falling to Carlos Alcaraz by 6-0, 6-1, 6-4, adding to the French Open drought, which has not seen an American man advance since Andre Agassi in 1999.

While American men have appeared to inch closer to breaking this Grand Slam barrier lately, with strong showings from players like Paul, Tiafoe, Ben Shelton, and Taylor Fritz, who reached the finals at the 2024 U.S. Open, they still lack that elusive title.

“There’s a clear improvement, demonstrated by both Paul and Tiafoe making it to the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, a feat not achieved by an American man since 2003.”

Why haven’t American men won Grand Slams in so long?

The dominance of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic has flattened the competition since 2003, with each winning numerous Grand Slam events during their careers. As Federer and Nadal approach retirement and Djokovic enters the twilight of his career at 38, new players are taking their place. So far, Alcaraz and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner have shown exceptional prowess, winning seven of the last ten Grand Slam events.

Can an American break through?

Shelton’s performance against Alcaraz was commendable, showcasing his potential in a sport craving new American male champions.

“Obviously, the key thing is, we gotta get a Ben Shelton to win one,” McEnroe said. “We need a fresh generation in our sport, big time.”