There’s just a total of 12 men’s singles players left in the draw after top half round of 16 action on Sunday in New York, and nine of them are aged 24 or younger.

Speaking after his four-set triumph over David Goffin on Sunday night, and in the aftermath of Novak Djokovic's shock default from the US Open, Canada’s Denis Shapovalov said it’s exciting that there are so many young players finally getting a moment to shine in an era that frankly hasn’t always provided them with much of a fighting chance during the business end of Grand Slams.




“This is definitely not the way we wanted to have a new Grand Slam champion,” Shapovalov said. “But it’s pretty exciting to see so many young guys doing so well, and obviously with some of the top guys not playing it’s opened up the draw quite a bit for everybody so you are seeing a lot of players that normally fans wouldn’t get to see, so it’s great for them and it’s great for everybody.”

Shapovalov, who is still alive in the doubles draw with partner Rohan Bopanna, says that it will be nice to see a player win their maiden Grand Slam next Sunday. It has not happened since Marin Cilic won the 2014 US Open.

The US Open will feature its first Grand Slam winner born in the 1990s (or 2000s) and this year’s US Open marks just the second time there hasn’t been a single former Grand Slam winner in the quarterfinals in the Open Era.

State of play in the #USOpen Men's Singles draw:

🎾 First-time Grand Slam champion will be crowned.

🎾 First time a player born in the 1990s (or 2000) will capture a Grand Slam title.

🎾 Second time in the Open Era a Grand Slam tournament QF won't have a former Major champion.

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 7, 2020