Ever since the era of the Williams sisters came to an end, Americans have been in search of their next star who can make it big at Wimbledon 2024 and lift the Grand Slam title. Coco Gauff seems to have the best chance at present. However, with six more players who are still alive in the competition across the women’s and men’s singles events, multiple stars will be expected to make deeper runs at SW19.
Many American players such as Marcos Giron, Sebastian Korda, Chris Eubanks, Jessica Pegula and Katie Volynets were knocked out in the earlier rounds. On Friday, the US contingent was hit with another blow as Frances Tiafoe lost a hard-fought 5-set match against Carlos Alcaraz in the Round of 32.
Luckily, there are still many talented players capable enough to contend for the title.
Coco Gauff
With Aryna Sabalenka withdrawing from the tournament before it commenced, Coco Gauff was promoted as the No.2 seed. This means that Gauff won’t face her biggest nemesis and the top seed, Iga Swiatek before the finals.
Apart from the draw being in Gauff’s favor, she has played exceptional tennis by dropped merely three games in her first two matches. Gauff defeated unseeded Brit Sonay Kartal in the third round at Court No.1 on Friday. The US Open 2023 champion will next play Emma Navarro in the Round of 16.
In the women’s doubles event as well, Coco Gauff is aiming to win the title with her teammate, Jessica Pegula.
Taylor Fritz
Fritz is the American man of the moment at Wimbledon 2024. His ‘revenge handshake’ on the net with his second round opponent, Arthur Rinderknech is still doing the rounds on the internet. Fritz beat the Frenchman, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 and had the last laugh after Rinderknech took shots at the American No.1 for his apparent ‘tantrums’ during their French Open 2023 match.
Before that, Fritz won in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 in the first round against Christopher O’Connell. The American will back himself to beat Alejandro Tabilo in the third round, but is likely to be tested.
Tommy Paul
As compared to Fritz, Paul has not looked at his best at the Wimbledon 2024 so far. It took him 4 sets to overcome Pedro Martinez in the first round and 5 sets to go past Otto Virtanen in the second round.
Paul was expected to have it tougher in his 3rd round contest against Alexander Bublik. However, the American came up with a much improved showing to win in straight sets and make it to the Round of 16. And if he wins that match, he could face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.
Ben Shelton
Ben Shelton is the only American player to have endured consecutive five-setters in the first two rounds. Being 2 sets to 1 down in both the opening and second rounds, Shelton displayed incredible resilience as he clawed back to win those matches.
However, like Paul, Shelton is not expected by most tennis fans to make a deep run as he would have to overcome Canada’s Denis Shapovalov in the third round.
Madison Keys
Keys has cruised into the fourth round of Wimbledon 2024 after defeating Martina Trevisan, Wang Yafan and Marta Kostyuk respectively in straight sets. Keys will take on French Open 2024 finalist Jasmine Paolini of Italy in the Round of 16 in a tricky match.
Nevertheless, Keys has been impressive in her campaign so far, performing above many peoples’ expectations.
Emma Navarro
Navarro has made it to the Round of 16 as well, beating Diana Shnaider in the third round on Friday. Although Navarro dropped a set, she has looked clinical in the tournament so far. In the first two rounds, the American billionaire heiress knocked out Wang Qiang and Naomi Osaka, which has upped her momentum.
Interestingly, Navarro will take on Gauff in the Round of 16. While this is great for American tennis, unfortunately it would mean that there will be less player from the country in the quarterfinals.
Danielle Collins
Danielle Collins is yet to play her third round match against Bettrice Haddad Maia of Brazil, which could be a tricky one for the 30-year-old. The American star hasn’t really been tested in the tournament yet, so she would have to be on top of her game from Round 3 if she wishes to make a deeper run in the tournament.
