NEW YORK — Three Americans remain in contention to become the first home men's champion at the US Open since 2003, but Carlos Alcaraz stands as the barrier to ending more than two decades without a domestic winner in New York.
The opportunity marks a rare collective breakthrough for American men's tennis, with three home players still alive deep in the draw at Flushing Meadows and positioned to claim a title that has eluded the nation since 2003. Alcaraz, the Spanish star, is the highest-profile threat left in their path.
Alcaraz brings elite movement, heavy baseline power and Grand Slam experience that has consistently separated him in major tournaments. Against big-serving, aggressive Americans on hard courts, his return game and ability to extend rallies and turn defense into offense will test whether the home contenders can dictate play or are forced into longer exchanges.
With the latter stages of the tournament set in New York, the draw sets up a direct examination of the current gap between Alcaraz and the leading Americans. A home victory would end the longest men's drought for the United States at its home major, while another Alcaraz run would reinforce his hold over the hard-court Grand Slam.