Andy Roddick is the most recent player to have completed both achievements, winning the US Open and reaching world number one in 2003.

When Roddick lifted the title at Flushing Meadows 22 years ago, few American tennis fans would’ve predicted the drought that followed.

Many have tried and failed to replicate his success, as only one American male tennis player has appeared in a Major final since.

Taylor Fritz lost to Jannik Sinner in last year’s US Open final, before reaching the final of the ATP Finals, ending the year ranked fourth in the world.

27-year-old Fritz looks best placed to break through and win big titles for the United States, although it was another 27-year-old who predicted similarly big things for himself just three years ago.

Maxime Cressy: The American ATP star who said he had what it takes to become world number one

Speaking in an interview with the ATP Tour in 2022, French-born American star Maxime Cressy was delighted to have just picked up his first tour-level title.

“I think it’s the most incredible feeling that I’ve had in my entire life, I’ve been looking forward to that first title for a very long time,” he said.

Cressy beat Alexander Bublik in three sets, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6, to clinch his first ATP title at the Hall of Fame Open in Newport, a win that saw him close in on the world’s top 30.

Following the win, Cressy was full of confidence as he looked to continue his surge up the rankings.

“Regardless of the ups and downs, my ranking has just skyrocketed really fast in the past two years,” he said.

“Considering all the failures that I’ve had, it’s been kind of crazy, because I definitely feel like I’ve fallen down a lot.

“But I rose back up quickly, I never gave up and I stayed resilient.

“Being just outside the top 30 that quickly is a huge indication that I have what it takes to be world number one. 

“I don’t think that belief is ever going to change.”

Cressy shot up the rankings in 2022 thanks to his commitment to the ‘serve and volley’ technique, which had long been abandoned on the ATP Tour.

Standing at 6ft 7, the powerful American became one of the more difficult players to figure out on tour as his tactics puzzled opponents.

“My dream is to really make serve and volley great again, and inspire many people to start playing that game style,” said Cressy.

“I’ve seen other players do it a lot more, like Rafa [Nadal].

“If I can impact the tennis world, and make serve and volley a game style that people enjoy and want to play, it’s going to be big.”

Did Maxime Cressy ever come close to reaching world number one?

Cressy finished his impressive 2022 season as world number 34, just outside of the seeded positions for the 2023 Australian Open.

It was there that he sealed his most recent Major victory, coming out on top against Spain’s Albert Ramos Vinolas in the first round.

One month later, Cressy returned to an ATP final for the first time since beating Bublik in Newport, as he took on now-world number one Jannik Sinner in Montpellier.

He fought hard against the Italian but was unable to add to his trophy cabinet as he lost in straight sets, 6-7, 3-6.

Cressy won just four more ATP matches in 2023, as his form tailed off dramatically, finishing the year ranked outside the world’s top 100.

2024 proved even tougher for the American, as he failed to qualify for all four Major tournaments, securing just a singular tour-level win, in the first round of Newport, where he had won the title two years earlier.

The 27-year-old finished the year as world number 240, a ranking that has dropped to 312th over recent months.

Cressy was last seen in action on the Challenger Tour 113 days ago, losing his sixth consecutive match.

It remains to be seen whether Cressy can rediscover his form over the coming years, as his hopes of reaching world number one seem to be fading fast.