2019 Australian Open signals bright future for American tennis

If 2018 was any indication of promising up-and-comers from the American side, then that has built on itself with 2019 just beginning. Thus far in Melbourne, Australia. We just witnessed Frances Tiafoe (21 on Monday) grab the biggest victory of his young career by dispatching the No. 5 seed, South African Kevin Anderson in four sets to advance to the third round of the Australian Open (AO). 

A couple hours later Taylor Fritz, 21, beat Frenchman and the 30th seed Gael Monfils in four sets to get to the third round. 

Amanda Animisova, born in New Jersey, raised by Russian immigrant parents has arguably looked the most impressive of the three without dropping a set in her first two matches. She won her first match in a major draw in the first round of the AO.

Both Tiafoe and Fritz had successful enough seasons to be involved in the 2018 ATP NextGen Finals in Rome.

Tiafoe reached a career-high ranking of 38 last year and is currently ranked 39th on the ATP. This is before placing this far in the AO after not getting past the first round in 2018's AO. Rankings are points based. Points are rewarded for a 12-month duration. The tournament and round they get to determine the points awarded and it is not based on beating the fifth seed or a much tougher opponent. Hence, some quirky draws and points are lost/rewarded in tournaments. Tiafoe had lost all three of his previous matches against Anderson, who was runner-up at the U.S. Open in 2017 and Wimbledon in 2018. Reaching the third round of a major tournament for a second time.

Taylor Fritz also reached a career-high ranking in November 2018 of 47. He is currently ranked 50th. Fritz gets the greatest ever, next round, Roger Federer, whom he did go to the third set in a three-set match last year and had legitimate chances to pull a match out he ultimately lost.

Amanda Anisimova, born in 2001, cruised to the third round in straight sets 6-0, 6-2 against the 24th seed Lesia Tsurenko. Anisimova won the Junior US Open title in 2015 and had some results last year that looked like she could be ready to become a top 30 player in 2019. In my opinion, this young woman has grand slam titles awaiting her. She hits huge, covers ground, and has great length to go with the power she possesses. She is the youngest player at only 17 years of age and born in this century ranked in the top 100. Makes a few of us feel a little 'experienced?' Joking aside, others are taking note. She is currently ranked 87th after being 95th in 2018.

Anisimova faces a lofty opponent in Aryna Sabalenka who had a meteoric rise at the tail end of 2018 and is considered a sleeper to challenge for the Australian Open title by some. Sabalenka is the 11 seed this year. Sabalenka has the fifth highest odds of winning the AO.

All three Tiafoe, Fritz, and Anisim8ova reached career highs in rankings in 2018 and already project set personal highs after this tournament in 2019. The experiences with bigger matches, higher rankings, and tougher opponents bode well for their careers. Fritz and Tiafoe have been in five-set matches against the world's top players. Anisimova shares her own wins against top 20 players accrued at the BNP Paribas Open in 2018. She dealt with a foot injury much of last Summer but came on strong at the end of 2019 to crack into the top 100.

US Tennis has taken its lumps on the men's side for the most part since Andy Roddick retired in 2009. The women have carried their fair share solely with Serena. Controversy aside, you know it is a pretty legendary player when they are known by just one name. Not to mention Venus. Women's tennis has seen the emergence of Sloane Stephens in the last 18 months, and right behind is Madison Keys reaching career bests and more consistency. With these three adding to the current established American players, the future is bright on the men's and women's sides.