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Two American men, Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton, are currently ranked inside the world’s top ten.
Both players reached the semifinals of Grand Slams this year and won titles on the ATP Tour.
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The wait for a male American Grand Slam winner goes on, however, as no man has won a major since Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open.
Such a drought has led many to talk down on the Americans who tried and failed to win Grand Slams over the past 22 years.
That mentality has now been questioned, as one top sports physiologist weighs in on the discussion.
Mark Kovacs says it’s ‘wrong’ to criticize American players for not winning Grand Slams
Appearing as a guest on the latest episode of ‘The Inside-In Tennis Podcast’, Mark Kovacs commented on the way fans and pundits treat players who aren’t winning major tournaments.
“If you’re top ten in the world, top 20 in the world, there are only ten people in the entire world better than you. You’re at the top, you’re at the pinnacle, there isn’t much more to go,” he said.
“But in our sport, if you’re ten in the world, you’re not that good in the scheme of the casual fan.
“Unfortunately, we downgrade how good they are unless they’re winning Slams.
“If you’re not winning Slams, you’re not good enough, and it’s wrong. It’s not the way we should evaluate.”
He proceeded to name an example of an American player who deserved more respect for his efforts during his career.
“John Isner had a phenomenal record, ten years, top 20 in the world, was top ten for four or five years, an unbelievable career,” said Kovacs.
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“But he doesn’t get talked about on the same level as any of the greats. He shouldn’t, because he doesn’t have 20 Grand Slams, but he was one heck of a tennis player.
“Any junior coming up would probably check that box if they could finish their career with a John Isner career.”
Kovacs believes top players in American tennis aren’t getting enough recognition.
“The problem is, especially in the US, if you’re not winning Slams, you’re not being recognized,” he said.
“You don’t hear about them on ESPN, you don’t hear about them as being one of the best athletes.”
Kovacs described Isner as ‘one heck of a tennis player’, but did the big-serving American ever come close to winning a Grand Slam?
John Isner’s Grand Slam record
Competing in 59 Grand Slam tournaments, Isner reached two quarterfinals and one semifinal.
John Isner’s Grand Slam record
Isner came closest to Grand Slam glory at Wimbledon seven years ago, when he reached the last four.
Travelling to London as the number-nine seed, Isner battled his way through to a maiden major semifinal.
- 2018 Wimbledon 1R – John Isner defeated Yannick Maden, 6-2, 7-6, 7-5
- 2018 Wimbledon 2R – John Isner defeated Ruben Bemelmans, 6-1, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 7-5
- 2018 Wimbledon 3R – John Isner defeated Radu Albot, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4
- 2018 Wimbledon 4R – John Isner defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6
- 2018 Wimbledon QF – John Isner defeated Milos Raonic, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 6-3
Standing between Isner and the Wimbledon final was South Africa’s Kevin Anderson.
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Dropping the first set in a tiebreaker, Isner won the next two to move within touching distance of the Championship match.
He couldn’t finish the job in the fourth, though, and Anderson broke Isner to level things up at 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 6-4.
What followed was remarkable, as Anderson and Isner played a 50-game deciding set.
Eventually, Anderson emerged victorious 26-24, securing his place in the Wimbledon final.
Isner only won three more matches at Wimbledon after 2018, before retiring from tennis in 2023.
He may not have won a Grand Slam during his career, but he gave it his best and perhaps deserves a little bit more respect from fans of the sport.