American men put in a solid showing in 2017

By the end of 2016, American men on the ATP tour had won a grand total of two singles titles between them. Questions surrounding the state of American tennis would not stop. Now, just one year later, three Americans have won two or more tournaments over the course of the season.

It was quite the turnaround with nine American men finishing in the Top 100. Two young players, Taylor Fritz and Ernesto Escobedo, spent a portion of the year close behind, finishing right outside of the Top 100.

It was a season full of career milestones and dubious streaks coming to an end.

Jack Sock became the first American male to win an ATP Masters 1000 title since Andy Roddick in 2010 when he took home the Paris in the last week of the regular season.

The win propelled Sock into the Top 10 and to the ATP Finals draw, where he reached the semifinals.

A couple of Sock’s peers were also in contention for a spot at the year-end championships. Sam Querrey won two titles and reached the semifinals at Wimbledon, putting an end to another mark held by Roddick as the Hall of Famer was the last American to make it to the final four at a major.

John Isner won two titles after Wimbledon and advanced to the semifinals at two of the year’s last three ATP Masters events.

Two players who had their most successful and consistent singles seasons in 2017 faced off in the biggest match of their careers on the Grand Slam stage. Ryan Harrison, who won his first singles title in Memphis, and his partner, Michael Venus, defeated Donald Young—who’s become a solid veteran at this point in his career—and Santiago Gonzalez in the doubles final of the French Open.

Leading up to the French Open, Steve Johnson captured the second singles title of his career in Houston. Perhaps more impressive than that was the fortitude he showed throughout his stay at Roland Garros and the rest of the year after the unexpected loss of his father.

Jared Donaldson made the field at the inaugural Next Get ATP Finals, which featured the some of the best 21-and-under players. Frances Tiafoe, who won two ATP Challenger titles on clay during the year and played riveting matches against Roger Federer and Juan Martin del Potro, barely missed out on the year-end tournament.

Statements were made throughout the year on the ATP Challenger circuit, with Tennys Sandgren vaulting to the Top 100 for the first time in his career, primarily on the strength of his performance in those events.

Near the end of the year, Stefan Kozlov and Tim Smyczek won ATP Challenger titles. In fact, Smyczek earned a wild card for the 2018 Australian Open after capturing two of three fall tournaments.

Hall of Famers Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and Michael Chang— the last Grand Slam-winning generation of American men—often spoke of how they were motivated by each other’s success. This current group appears to be emulating that strategy.

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