John McEnroe believes an American man will win a Grand Slam in the next year and a half, picks Tiafoe, Fritz, Korda as favorites

No American man has won a Grand Slam since 2003, but John McEnroe believes the drought will come to an end in the next 18 months as he picked out some players with the greatest potential and “upsides”.

Speaking during a Eurosport and discovery+ event, Former World No.1 McEnroe was asked about the current crop of American players and who has the greatest potential.

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“I think at this time these players have been pushing each other and that is a good thing," said McEnroe. "They have spent a lot of time together, growing up as juniors like Tommy Paul, Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz and I think they become better players because of it. [Reilly] Opelka he is another guy you wouldn’t want to play.

“I would say Korda to me has the biggest upside at the moment. I think Ben Shelton, I haven’t seen much of him, but this guy has some serious game and he is really a breath of fresh air.

“Paul was someone who came onto the scene and a lot of ability, but perhaps wasn’t prepared to do what it takes to get himself to that level of fitness and mental strength that you need, but now he has and you see how good he is.

“[Jenson] Brooksby was a guy a year and half ago that I perhaps would have put as the upside of all the Americans, but his serve needs to get a lot better if he wants to make that breakthrough.

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“Taylor Fritz is the highest-ranked of all, he hits an incredible ball and he’s had some disappointing Grand Slam results the last couple of events, but to me he is a consistent top 10 player. I’m not sure I put him at the top as the highest upside, but he is certainly a great player.”

McEnroe feels Tiafoe, who reached the semi-final of the US Open last year, is probably the best-placed American to reach the top and he is expecting a Grand Slam breakthrough soon.

“There is a void in tennis with Roger retiring we are not sure about Rafa so there is a place now that the players are trying to find out where they belong so there is an opportunity," he added. “Tiafoe I would put close to the top in terms of upsides because athletically he could be even the best of them all, but mentally he is getting stronger, disappointing result at the Australian Open.

“I think in the next year or year and half I think you will see one of the Americans win a major.”