With the French Open starting to reach its late stages, there's a noticeable absence of one particular nationality: Americans. The men's side is in one of the worst slumps in U.S. history, with no one ranked inside the top-30 in the world rankings and no one advancing beyond the third round at Roland Garros. The women's side isn't as desolate, with seven players inside the top-30, but only Coco Gauff advancing into the quarterfinals, where she lost Wednesday morning.
With some of the more famous names in American tennis either in the twilight of their careers or retired... who is there to take the stage? As it sits right now, here are the highest-ranked men and women in world tennis as of this week.
MEN
Taylor Fritz (#33): The highest-ranked American male is Fritz, who dropped outside the top-10 last month, making it the first time in the half-century of computerized rankings that there is no American above the top-30. He is still young, at only 23 years old, but his record in majors hasn't been great. He was bounced in the second round of the French Open and he's never been beyond the third round in a major. His lone singles title came in the Eastbourne International in 2019.
John Isner (#34): The most recognizable name in men's American tennis, Isner was a top-10 player in the world in 2018 but has gradually slid back as age begins to catch up. Now 36, Isner hasn't been beyond the third round of any major since a quarterfinal appearance in the 2018 U.S. Open.
Reilly Opelka (#35): The trio of American men ranked back-to-back-to-back is capped by Opelka, another 23-year-old trying to find his footing on the big stages. In midst of his third full season of playing in majors, his third-round exit at Roland Garros was the furthest he'd ever advanced in a big event (tied with his third-round loss at Wimbledon in 2019), but bright things appear ahead.
WOMEN
Sofia Kenin (#5): Currently the highest-ranked American woman is the 22-year-old Kenin, who has been on a gradual climb to stardom. She broke into the top-100 of the WTA rankings as a teenager, won three events in 2019 in being named the Most Improved Player of the Year, won her first major at the 2020 Australian Open and won Player of the Year honors. She's been ranked as high as fourth in the world, and it seems like its only a matter of when, not if, she climbs even higher.
Serena Williams (#8): The GOAT is still hanging around, even though she's four years removed from her last major, the 2017 Australian Open. She lost in the finals at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2018 and 2019 and made the semifinals at back-to-back majors before a fourth-round exit earlier in the week at the French Open. She's still the most popular tennis player in America and until she puts down the racket for good she'll always draw a crowd and be considered a favorite. However, at age 39, appreciate her while you still can.
Jennifer Brady (#14): You might not have been overly familiar with Brady prior to this year, when she made a run to the Australian Open final. But the 26-year-old has been around for a while, turning pro in 2014 after a collegiate career at UCLA. She had a good 2017, slumped in 2018 and has been returning to form ever since. She began 2020 inside the top-50, won her first singles event at the Top Seed Open, made the semis at the U.S. Open and beat a couple of top-five players in Ash Barty and Elina Svitolina.
Madison Keys (#24): Expectations seemed almost impossibly high for Keys, who won her first WTA match at age 14 in 2009. By the end of 2013 she was ranked inside the top-50, reached as high as sixth globally in 2016, but she hasn't entirely broken through. She has five singles titles to her name, yet has only made one major final (the 2017 U.S. Open), she made a pair of semifinals in 2018 and has only been beyond the fourth round once since the start of 2019. She's still an excellent player, but at age 26 she's not the mega-star folks thought she could become.
Coco Gauff (#25): Most people consider Gauff to be the "next big thing" in American tennis. It's been two years since she stormed onto the scene with a run to the fourth-round at Wimbledon at age 15(!!), with a win over Venus Williams included. Still only 17, her current ranking of 25 is her highest yet, and her Wednesday trip to the quarterfinal at the French Open is her best finish in a major. She's doing things only a few had ever done at her age (think Martina Hingis, Venus and Serena... not bad company) and she's the best bet to be an absolute superstar.