The U.S. Open begins Sunday, and several men’s singles players have emerged as notable challengers for the title.
Arthur Fils (France)
World No. 11 Fils captured his first ATP Masters 1000 at the Cincinnati Open, defeating Frances Tiafoe. After missing much of 2025 with a lower‑back stress fracture, the 22‑year‑old has reached the quarter‑finals of eight tournaments and won the Barcelona Open in April. He said the Masters 1000 victory feels “very good” after a tough year.
Taylor Fritz (United States)
Ranked No. 10, Fritz has long been a hopeful to end the U.S. men’s Grand Slam drought dating back to Andy Roddick’s 2003 win. Though his season has been uneven, he broke a streak of four final defeats by winning the Washington Open. His powerful serve leads the tour with 687 aces this year, and a strong showing could earn him a first Grand Slam title.
Felix Auger‑Aliassime (Canada)
World No. 4 Auger‑Aliassime has held a top‑five spot since April, highlighted by quarter‑final runs at the French Open and Wimbledon. He claimed the ATP 250 Montpellier Open this year, but a back injury forced him out of the Canadian Open, and he fell to Frances Tiafoe in the Cincinnati round of 16.
Daniil Medvedev (Russia)
World No. 8 Medvedev, the 2021 U.S. Open champion, sees an open field after Jannik Sinner’s knee injury and Carlos Alcaraz’s limited match fitness. Though recent results in Montreal and Cincinnati have been disappointing, Medvedev remains a hard‑court specialist with titles in Brisbane and Dubai this season.
Rafael Jodar (Spain)
World No. 13 Jodar, a former U.S. Open boys’ champion, is part of the sport’s rising generation. The 19‑year‑old won his first ATP title at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Morocco and has reached at least the quarter‑finals in six of his last eight tournaments, including a semi‑final in Montreal and a final in Washington.
These players will look to capitalize on recent form and seize the opportunity at Flushing Meadows, where the men’s field appears wide open.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
