Former world number one
John McEnroe has highlighted the
need for American men’s tennis players to win a Grand Slam. The 66-year-old is
currently working with TNT Sports in the transmission for the
French Open 2025
which is now moving towards conclusion.
McEnroe, while talking during the transmission, stated that American men’s tennis players need to win more Grand Slams, something they have not done in quite a long period of time, which has not been the case with women’s tennis players who have won major titles consistently. The 66-year-old
stated that after seeing two American players —
Frances Tiafoe and
Tommy Paul —
cementing a spot in the last eight at the
Roland Garros. They became the first
American players to cement a spot in the quarterfinal of the ongoing mega-event
since 2003.
“We got to get some American men to win some majors, and
that would make it, to me, much more interesting if Tiafoe, Tommy Paul [can
win]” he said. “We never had that problem with the women, but we certainly have
it with the men, and I think that's been a real problem for us.”
McEnroe had a point when he referred to how his country’s
tennis players have found it hard to lift the silverware over the last two
decades. The last American men’s tennis player to lift a singles Grand Slam title
was former world number one
Andy Roddick, who won the US Open back in 2003.
In this year’s French Open, America’s Tiafoe cemented his
spot in the last-eight after beating Germany’s Daniel Altmaier in straight sets
with a score of 6-3, 6-4, 7-6. He will face Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in the quarterfinal
who cemented his spot after beating Denmark’s Holger Rune in the last-16 clash
with a score of 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
On the other hand, America's Paul also booked his place in the last eight at the Roland Garros after beating Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. He is set to face the reigning world number two and defending champion, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, who cemented his spot after beating America’s Ben Shelton with a score of 7-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.