Novak Djokovic suggests the American male players may not have adapted to the game as well as European players over the last two decades and that could be one of the reasons for their Grand Slam drought.
In 2003, a 21-year-old Andy Roddick became a Grand Slam champion at the US Open. Across the next six years, Roddick made four more Major finals, but never again lifted a title on the biggest stage.
Since Roddick's 2003 US Open victory, no male player from the United States has triumphed at a Slam. In 2024, Taylor Fritz reached the US Open final and became the first US man since 2009 to make a Major title match. Unfortunately for Fritz but also American men's tennis, the world No. 9 failed to get the job done after losing to Jannik Sinner in straight sets.
Djokovic, who has won a record 24 Grand Slams, was asked about the American men's tennis drought at the Australian Open.
Djokovic: Maybe the US male players weren't able to adapt as well as maybe Europeans
“I don’t know. It could be different factors, you know. Could be some of the things that you mentioned with the way the game evolved, and then maybe there was a period where the American players weren’t able to adapt as well as maybe Europeans in the last couple of decades. You could argue that’s one of the things," the former world No. 1 explained in Melbourne.
After throwing out an interesting theory, Djokovic noted that the United States has some great talents and issued a bright prediction.
"I don’t think you’re lacking players. It’s just maybe at the moment you don’t have someone that would take it to the next step and play for Grand Slams and be a top player of the world, but that could change very quickly, because women’s tennis is doing very well currently with American players," the Serb added.
There is a hope for American men's tennis that their drought could end at this year's Australian Open since Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton are still in the tournament after being through to the round-of-16.
