Game, Set, Shad: American men flooding the zone in impressive showing at Indian Wells so far
OK, we all know there hasn't been a men's champion in Indian Wells since 2001. Let's just get that out of the way.
But, it's hard not to notice how well the American men are performing at this year's BNP Paribas Open.
For example, there are eight men's matches on Tuesday, and five of them feature an American playing. Tommy Paul upset No. 3 Alexander Zverev and Stevie Johnson upset No. 22 Aslan Karatsev.
Taylor Fritz, Paul, Frances Tiafoe, Johnson and John Isner will all be hitting the court Tuesday, and that doesn't include Reilly Opelka and Jenson Brooksby who played Monday night after press time.
More: Taylor Fritz needs just 57 minutes to win his first match at BNP Paribas Open
More: BNP Paribas Open: American Tommy Paul takes down third seed Alexander Zverev at Indian Wells
It takes a lot to break through and win the whole thing, but just the fact the Americans are flooding the zone is encouraging. At this same stage in the tournament in October, only three American men remained.
For the first time since 2004, there are seven American men ranked in the top 50. Does it feel like the breakthrough will happen this year? No, not necessarily, but for the first time in years, it does feel like the breakthrough is coming.
Until then, 2001 Andre Agassi can continue to pop champagne like the 1972 Miami Dolphins.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: BNP Paribas Open: American men enjoy impressive showing so far
