4 American tennis players who had a disappointing 2024 season ft. Sloane Stephens
American tennis was at the forefront of the sport this season, with quite a few players from the country performing at a high level throughout the season. Taylor Fritz led the way for the men and advanced to his first Major final at the US Open, where he lost to Jannik Sinner.
Frances Tiafoe also reached a Masters 1000 final, and Tommy Paul won three titles this year. American women outshone the men once again with their results. Gauff won the WTA Finals and ended the season ranked third. Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro were also ranked in the top 10 at the end of the season due to their consistent results.
However, not all big names from the country achieved a similar level of success. On that note, here's a look at four American players who endured a disappointing campaign in 2024:
#4 - Christopher Eubanks
After years of hard work, Eubanks finally made his breakthrough on the ATP Tour last season. He made the quarterfinals of the Miami Open and at Wimbledon, the first time he did so at a Masters 1000 and a Major tournament. He also claimed his maiden career title at the ATP level at the Mallorca Championships.
Eubanks' results led to his top 30 debut as well, and he peaked at No. 29. However, he couldn't sustain the momentum in 2024, and dropped out of the top 100 as well. He posted an 11-19 record on the ATP Tour this season and went 1-4 at the Majors as well as at the Masters 1000 tournaments.
Eubanks' ranking dropped to No. 128 after his first-round exit from Wimbledon. He has now positioned himself to re-enter the top 100 after winning a title at the Challenger level in Knoxville at the start of November. Following the highs of last year, this was a season to forget for the 28-year-old.
#3 - Alycia Parks
Parks hit a career-high of No. 40 last year and secured her maiden career title at the WTA level at the Lyon Open as well. When she advanced to the third round of a Major for the first time at the Australian Open this year, one expected her to use that as a springboard to greater success.
However, that wasn't meant to be. Parks didn't win another main draw match on the WTA Tour until September at the China Open following her run Down Under. She compiled a dire 4-14 record at the WTA level this year. She was also ranked No. 151 at one point but improved her ranking with a couple of titles at the Challenger level.
Parks didn't follow through on the promise she showed last year in 2024. However, she is currently ranked No. 106, and with another Challenger tournament in Angers left for her to partake in before she wraps up the season, she could potentially return to the top 100 by winning the title.
#2 - Sofia Kenin
Kenin concluded 2023 ranked No. 33, and made the semifinals of the WTA 1000 tournament in Guadalajara, and was the runner-up at the San Diego Open. One expected her to continue her upward ascent but she regressed this season right off the bat.
Kenin started 2024 with an opening round exit from the Brisbane International. Following her first-round win at the Hobart International, she lost her next nine matches. By the end of August, she had won only eight matches, and her ranking dropped to No. 168 after a second-round exit from the US Open.
Kenin salvaged her season with a runner-up finish at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo and concluded her year with a quarterfinal showing at the Hong Kong Open. She returned to the top 90 after a strong end to 2024, though this season was a far cry from the success she achieved last year.
#1 - Sloane Stephens
Stephens won her first title in over two years in Rouen this season, and it all went downhill for her soon after that. She advanced to the third round of the Madrid Open after her title-winning run, where she lost to Maria Sakkari. The 30-year-old won only two more matches for the rest of the season after her loss in the Spanish capital.
Stephens ended the year on a six-match losing streak and called it a time on her season after her opening-round exit from the Korea Open in September. She didn't participate in the season's last two WTA 1000 tournaments and finished the year ranked No. 78, her worst year-end finish since she was ranked No. 97 in 2011.
Stephens won only three matches at the Majors this year and had six victories at the WTA 1000 level. She posted a 19-21 record this season, and overall it was an underwhelming season for the former US Open champion despite winning a title.