Former World No.1 Jimmy Connors has showered praise on Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz after their impressive US Open run. Connors said if Carlos Alcaraz didn’t make a deep run in the tournament, that’s not the American duo’s problem.

Alcaraz was stunned in the New York Major as he suffered a straight set loss against Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp. 

While Frances Tiafoe made it to the semifinal of the US Open, Fritz made it to his maiden Slam final. Fritz defeated his compatriot in the semis in five sets but could not cross the last hurdle against World No.1 Jannik Sinner in the final as he was beaten in straight sets at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“It’s been a while (since two American men featured in the semis of a Grand Slam), right? We haven’t had a men’s champion since (Andy) Roddick in 2003. For two Americans to be in the semis was pretty exciting and it goes to show, when you stay in there, you keep grinding, you keep training, you keep working, you keep sacrificing and you keep doing what’s best to try to make you better everyday, good things happen,” Connors said on his Advantage Connors podcast.

“So what happens? They might be playing their best tennis. Alcaraz might have been in there. He lost. That’s not their fault. If he doesn’t make it that’s not their problem, but they were prepared and playing the kind of tennis necessary to get to that point, which is great,” Connors added.

The eight-time Slam champion added that the American players need to stay on the right track to get the desired results.

“Listen, the (American) men need to start moving forward like they have and prove that they’re worthy of that semifinal and final berth now every time they go out there and play. And tennis is a 365-days-per-year job and you can’t live off of one result. That one result, as great as it was, is over now,” he concluded.