Patrick McEnroe, former professional tennis player and commentator, has confidently predicted that American Ben Shelton will end the long drought of U.S. men winning the U.S. Open. The last American man to win the tournament was Andy Roddick in 2003. McEnroe expressed excitement about finally seeing another American champion, naming Shelton, the No. 8 seed from Atlanta, as his pick to capture the 2026 title at Arthur Ashe Stadium on September 13. The winner will earn a record $5.5 million in prize money.

Shelton, 23, has been in excellent form, having recently defended his Canadian Open title without dropping a set. His dominant performance included victories over Brandon Nakashima, Joao Fonseca, Jacub Mensik, and Learner Tien, marking him as only the fourth man in this century to defend that title successfully. Shelton attributes his recent success to his mental toughness, focus, and improved return game, which McEnroe sees as crucial for winning a major tournament.

The men's draw for the 2026 U.S. Open is notably wide open due to the withdrawal of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner with a knee injury and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz's ongoing wrist injury, which has kept him off the competitive circuit since April. This situation presents a huge opportunity for players like Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, as well as international talents such as Alexander Zverev, Arthur Fils, Rafael Jodar, and Flavio Cobolli. DraftKings currently lists Alcaraz as the betting favorite, followed by Zverev, Novak Djokovic, and Shelton.

Experts like ESPN’s Mary Joe Fernandez echo McEnroe’s opinion that this U.S. Open is one of the most open tournaments in years, particularly favorable for American players. Shelton’s strong serve and improved return game, combined with the absence or uncertain form of top contenders, position him as the country's leading hope to claim the iconic Grand Slam trophy and revitalize American men's tennis on home soil.