Back in 2002, New York had loads to cheer for. They had a double delight confirmed even before the finals began at Flushing Meadows. Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Serena Williams and Venus Williams made it through to the top four at the US Open back then. Sampras won the title after taking down Agassi, while Serena won the battle of the Williams’ sisters.

Serena went on to claim the singles title six times in her illustrious career. In fact, it was at the US Open in 2022 where she made her last appearance in a major. In 2003, Andy Roddick triumphed over Juan Carlos Ferrero in a one-sided final. But since then, barring Serena, none of the Americans could show enough consistency in Grand Slams, although many promised.

Back in 2017, Sloane Stephens won the women’s singles crown, but went down the pecking order from there on. Coco Gauff bagged the title last year as a teenager after taking down Aryna Sabalenka, who had taken the No.1 crown from Iga Swiatek. This time around, she could not progress beyond the pre-quarters after losing to Emma Navarro.

Americans give hopes

2024, however, brought back memories of 2002. Four of the eight semi-finalists were Americans. Expectations were high from Frances Tiafoe, who had beaten Rafael Nadal here in 2022. Jessica Pegula had stunned World No.1 Swiatek and scripted a come-from-behind win over Karolina Muchova in the semis.

Taylor Fritz was brimming with confidence after beating Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev. So did Navarro, who had stunned Gauff. After 2002, the US Open witnessed the first instance when an American man and woman played in the final. In the finals, the onus was on Pegula and Fritz to replicate the scenes from 2002 when Sampras and Serena won.

But fate had other plans!

Disappointment for Americans at US Open

Pegula did not have the best of records against Sabalenka, losing five out of seven matches against the World No.2. But in the final, she gave the Belarusian plenty of headaches. Sabalenka dropped her serve four times and Pegula had the chance of getting her on the mat multiple times.

In the second set when she won four games in a row after initially going 3-0 down, it seemed Pegula would force a decider. But Sabalenka brought forth all her strength and experience to shatter one American’s dream of winning a Grand Slam title. It was not meant to be for Pegula, who lost the match 5-7, 5-7 after a lion-hearted effort in her maiden Grand Slam final.

For Fritz, it was also his maiden appearance in a final at a major and nerves showed when he faced the dangerous Jannik Sinner. The task was never going to be easy despite having the crowd cheering him throughout. He had his moments in the match, breaking Sinner’s serve once in the first set and again in the third. But after grinding for two hours and 16 minutes, he gave up the ghost and lost 3-6, 4-6, 5-7.

Next time?

While Pegula gave hopes of an American standing with the winner’s trophy, Fritz looked far from his best. It goes without saying that Fritz was gutted, and he apologised to the crowd for not being able to go all the way. He also pledged to work hard and fulfil his dreams of winning a Grand Slam.

“I know we’ve been waiting for a champion for a long time. I’m sorry I couldn’t get it done. I’m going to keep working, and hopefully I get it done next time,” Fritz said after losing to Sinner.

When the likes of Roger Federer, Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Serena were at the peak of their powers, it was tough to dislodge them. But with tennis entering into a new era, Americans have a chance to do justice to their potential and bring back the glory of the days when Sampras and Serena used to make hay.