It’s no takeover: The highest 10 stays almost all European, with Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada because the lone interloper. However it’s progress, and there seems to be appreciable upside.
“I believe that’s true,” mentioned Patrick McEnroe, an ESPN analyst, former professional participant and U.S. Davis Cup captain. “I believe significantly from Opelka, Brooksby, Korda and possibly throw Fritz in there, though I don’t know if he’s received the athleticism to get to the top-top.”
McEnroe, like lots of people in tennis, appears on the 18-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, along with his blazing velocity and all-action, all-court recreation, and clearly sees a future No. 1 participant.
“I wouldn’t say that concerning the Individuals,” McEnroe mentioned. “However I’d say, to me, I may see Brooksby, Korda and Opelka undoubtedly hitting the highest 5 sooner or later and undoubtedly attending to the ultimate 4 or closing of a serious. That’s what it’s going to take to get the common fan a bit of bit extra desirous about it, little doubt. So, I’m very optimistic, and when you’ve got one or two of these guys do this, I believe the opposite guys will really feel much more emboldened.”
For now, the Individuals have a frightening Wednesday forward with Opelka going through Nadal, Brooksby going through the defending event champion Cameron Norrie, Fritz going through the No. 29 seed Alex de Minaur, and Isner going through the No. 33 seed Grigor Dimitrov.
This has been a very long time constructing, and McEnroe had a view close to the bottom flooring as the top of the USA Tennis Affiliation’s participant improvement program. He was pushed out in late 2014 partially due to poor males’s tour outcomes. When his tenure ended, Isner was the one American man ranked within the high 50, however whereas in his function, McEnroe heard and noticed loads of Opelka, Paul, Fritz and Frances Tiafoe, a charismatic African American participant from the Washington, D.C., space.
All 4 are projected to be ranked within the high 40 after this event, with Opelka at present the top-ranked American at No. 17.